In an era of increasing cyberattacks and data breaches, securing your data has become more important than ever. As businesses look for more efficient and scalable ways to manage their growing data needs, Storage as a Service (STaaS) has emerged as a popular solution. However, the adoption of STaaS also comes with its own set of security challenges. In Singapore, for instance, we’ve seen cyberattacks such as the SingHealth data breach in 2018 or the RedDoorz data leak in 2020.
In this blog, we’ll explore the basics of STaaS security and outline best practices for data protection – including access controls, data encryption, and password management. We’ll also discuss the most common protocols for STaaS security and provide additional considerations for ensuring your data remains safe and how cloud storage, like kStore, can help you secure your data.
Why Secure Data with STaaS?
STaaS provides businesses in Singapore with a secure and resilient IT infrastructure that can store and manage their data. This infrastructure is designed to protect data from unauthorised access, theft, or loss. STaaS transforms business operations by offering various security measures and corporate data storage solutions to ensure that businesses’ data is secure.
In addition, STaaS providers have the expertise and resources to monitor and detect any security threats or vulnerabilities in the infrastructure, ensuring that any potential threats are addressed promptly. STaaS providers also ensure that their infrastructure is compliant with industry regulations and standards, providing businesses with peace of mind and helping them avoid costly fines or legal penalties.
Best Practices for Data Protection with STaaS
1. Password Management
Passwords are the first line of defence against unauthorised access to data. By creating strong passwords, businesses can reduce the risk of password guessing or cracking. Strong passwords should be long, complex, and include a combination of upper and lower case letters, numbers, and symbols. Changing passwords regularly helps ensure that passwords remain secure and reduces the risk of them being compromised.
Most security experts recommend changing passwords every three to six months. STaaS providers also offer multi-factor authentication (MFA) options that provide an additional layer of security by requiring users to provide additional verification factors, such as a fingerprint or a security token.
2. Access Controls
Implementing access controls is a crucial step in securing data with STaaS. Access controls ensure that only authorised personnel can access and manage the data. Businesses should implement role-based access controls that limit access to data based on the user’s job responsibilities.
3. Data Encryption
Encrypting data is another essential practice to protect data with STaaS. When data is encrypted, plain text is essentially scrambled into a code that cannot be deciphered without the decryption key. Even if a hacker gains access to encrypted data, they will not be able to read or use it. This reduces the risk of sensitive information being exposed or misused in case of a data breach or cyber attack.
Moreover, encryption can also help businesses meet compliance requirements and industry regulations related to data protection and privacy. For example, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) requires that personal data must be protected by appropriate security measures, including encryption, to prevent unauthorised access, use, or disclosure.
STaaS providers offer various encryption options, including at-rest encryption and in-transit encryption, to protect data from unauthorised access or interception. Security protocols provide an additional layer of security to encrypted data and include:
- Transport Layer Security (TLS): TLS is a protocol that encrypts data in transit between the user’s device and the STaaS provider’s infrastructure. TLS ensures that data cannot be intercepted or altered in transit.
- Secure Sockets Layer (SSL): SSL is another protocol that encrypts data in transit between the user’s device and the STaaS provider’s infrastructure. SSL provides a secure channel for data to travel between the user’s device and the STaaS provider’s infrastructure.
4. Monitoring and auditing
STaaS providers should have a robust monitoring and auditing system in place that tracks and records all corporate activities related to data access, modification, or deletion. This system should be able to detect any unauthorised or suspicious activity and alert the appropriate personnel promptly, reducing the risk of data loss or damage.
Monitoring and auditing should be done in real-time, and the system should provide reports and alerts on any unusual activity, such as failed login attempts, changes in access permissions, or data modification. This helps businesses respond quickly to potential security threats and take appropriate action to mitigate the risk.
In addition to monitoring and auditing, businesses should also have a disaster recovery plan in place. A disaster recovery plan outlines how you will respond to any security incidents or data breaches, and it includes procedures for data backup and restoration, as well as communication protocols for notifying affected parties.
Secure Your Data With Kronicles’ STaaS Solutions
Kronicles’ Storage as a Service (STaaS) provides a comprehensive suite of solutions that enables businesses to store, manage, and protect their data on a secure and resilient infrastructure. kStore, a data cloud storage solution that provides enterprises in Singapore with scalable and cost-effective storage options.
- Simplified storage requirements: Kronicles’ kStore solution simplifies storage requirements with a management GUI that enables easy expansion or decrease based on business requirements.
- Fast and efficient file identification and retrieval: Kronicles’ STaaS solutions provide fast and efficient file identification and retrieval options, making it easy for businesses to locate and retrieve data quickly.
- Cutting-edge storage technology: Kronicles’ cutting-edge storage technology efficiently optimises storage space, preventing primary storage from becoming overburdened with idle data.
Implementing Kronicles’ STaaS solutions and kStore can provide businesses with peace of mind, knowing that their data is secure and compliant with industry regulations and standards. Schedule a consultation with us to learn more about our STaaS solutions and how they can help protect your data and enhance your business operations.
