How to Protect Your Cloud Hosted Data from Security Breaches

Recently, Adobe sent out e-mails and letters to users notifying everyone of a security breach. "The attackers may have obtained access to your Adobe ID and encrypted password." The obvious question here is, "How do I protect myself and my business from such attacks?" The unfortunate answer is you can't, but you can marginalize the impact by taking some common sense measures.

Security breaches like the one experienced by Adobe can be scary, especially considering that many users have moved to a Software as a Service (SaaS) model where the application is hosted in the cloud. This cloud hosting service is offered by Adobe and is the direction that many software providers are heading. This SaaS model is highly convenient in terms of getting work done, but your security is only as good as the company that hosts your apps. Here's what you can do to supplement their security measures.

Password Protection
Today, it's not uncommon to have a dozen or more accounts requiring a password. From your online bank account, to your car insurance, and everything else, keeping track of all your passwords can feel a little overwhelming, which is why many of us use the same password on all of our accounts. This practice is frowned upon, but unfortunately, it's the norm for many. The solution is simple; make sure you use different passwords for different accounts. The last thing you want is someone hacking into your Xbox Live account and gaining access to your bank account and personal e-mail.

When first taking the step to create a unique password for each account, many people decide to create a digital document with all of their passwords listed next to the accounts. This is an even less advisable practice because of the amount of malware and phishing scams there are out there. Once infected, your entire computer is compromised and a document like this will be the Holy Grail for identity thieves.

If you do decide to go digital to keep track of passwords, it is recommended that you use a service such as LastPass or RoboForm. These services provide military-level encryption and provides you peace of mind regarding your accounts.

SaaS Payment Management
Another way to effectively protect against a large scale assault on your network is to have a credit card dedicated to SaaS and other digital payments, rather than using one card to purchase everything. For instance, if you know what the total bill for your company's Adobe Creative Cloud year membership will be, then you can use a card with a limit of no more than that amount.

If you follow these easy steps, it will help protect your accounts if for some reason your data is compromised. This way, you can feel secure, even if your hosting account is hacked. You will not have to worry about spending your morning sifting through your different accounts changing your passwords. Instead, you can continue to ride the productivity train that is your business. Chooooo Choooooo!