9 Ways to Make Your Cloud Storage Safer and More Secure

1. Embrace strong passwords and two-factor authentication

A strong password is critical to making your cloud storage safer and more secure. Unfortunately, most people do not understand what qualifies as a strong password by modern standards. Most cybersecurity experts say that an excellent password should have at least ten characters, including letters and symbols.

In addition to this, you should enable two-factor authentication for your account. The means that when logging into your cloud storage account, you will need your password and one-time verification code sent to your phone. The verification code can be relayed by call, SMS, or mail.

2. Be steadfast in managing your file and folder shares.

Cloud-storage makes it easy to share files whenever needed through links. On the other hand, this can compromise your cloud storage security when the links you have shared fall into the wrong hands. This is why you need to be steadfast in managing your file and folder share. Regularly check the links you have shared to ensure that only authorized people have access to them.

3. Empty your recycle bin regularly.

As a move to ensure that you do not delete your important files, when you delete files from your cloud storage, they end up in the recycle bin. They can stay here for about three months before they are completely depleted, as is the case for Google Drive. While the files are in the recycle bin, they can be retrieved. If you are deleting any files that you do not want to be seen by anyone else ever, you should also empty your recycle bin. Make sure you check that you are not deleting anything that you will need soon.

4. Keep tabs on your connected accounts and apps.

Cybercriminals looking to access your cloud storage may choose to use the connected accounts and apps to do so if they find it difficult to gain access directly. This is why you should keep tabs on your connected apps and accounts. Make sure that all the connected accounts and apps have strong passwords with two-factor authentication enabled. You can remove any connected accounts and apps that do not have excellent cloud storage security.

5. Switch on log-in account alerts

Many cloud storage options come with robust security features that can give you an edge over cybercriminals. Among the most useful of these is log-in account alerts, which send you a notification through email or SMS every time your account is logged into. You can enable this feature on the settings page of your cloud storage.

The log-in account alerts enable you to verify if you are the one logging into your account. If you are not the one, you can choose to close the account momentarily and change your password to prevent malicious access. The account alerts will also inform you anytime attempts are made to change your account password.

6. Delink your old devices

Cloud storage services allow you to sync files across multiple devices. This means that you can access the same cloud storage account from your smartphone, laptop, work PC, and such. When the time comes that you want to gift your device or sell it, make sure that you have logged out of all your accounts and reset the device. Using your new device, log into your cloud storage account and delink your account from the old devices. This will eliminate all possibilities that someone can reverse the deletions from your old device and access your cloud storage.

7. Activate account recovery options

Cloud storage services offer robust account recovery options in case your cloud storage security is compromised. These usually include linking your account to a recovery email and your phone number. These options allow you to receive codes to reset your account password. You might also have to answer a secret security question. Keep in mind that you might have to activate the account recovery option from your account’s settings page. This is not all accounts have the feature enabled by default.

8. Sign out of your accounts when using shared devices

It’s more convenient to stay logged in to your cloud storage account at the shared or work or home computer. This move puts the safety and security of your cloud storage account at the mercy of those you share it with.

They may not be keen on adhering to stringent cybersecurity measures as you. If their account is compromised and your account is logged in, then it’s likely that your account will also be compromised. This is why you should always sign out of your account when using shared devices.

9. Keep your personal devices safe.

If a malicious individual has access to your device physically, they can take advantage of this to compromise your cloud storage security. It will be much easier for them to gain access to your sensitive data as they can pretend to be you. Therefore you need to keep your personal devices safe at all times.

Ensure that your primary device password is strong, and your device is always locked anytime you are out of your house. Keep of public Wi-Fi, and if you must use it, get a reliable VPN. Also, make sure that no one is watching you as you input your passwords in public spaces. In case you need to repair your device, only seek the services of a trusted repair person.

We hope this blog has provided you with the information you need when it comes to cloud storage security

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