How Secure is Cloud Storage?

Today we are looking at how safe your documents really are when using one of the big cloud storage providers.

But first there are a few things we should consider. Cloud storage can be very safe when used properly, but it's important to understand the potential risks and take steps to mitigate them. Some of the most common risks include data breaches, unauthorised access, and data loss. To ensure the safety of your data in the cloud, it's essential to use a reputable provider that offers secure storage and to protect your account with strong, unique passwords and two-factor authentication. Additionally, it's important to regularly back up your data and to encrypt sensitive information both in transit and at rest.

So lets look at Dropbox as an example. It is generally considered to be a secure cloud storage provider, as it uses a variety of security measures to protect user data. Here are a few examples:
 

1. Encryption: Dropbox uses industry-standard AES-256 encryption to protect data both in transit and at rest.
2. Two-factor authentication: Dropbox allows users to enable two-factor authentication, which provides an additional layer of security for their account.
3. Secure file sharing: Dropbox allows users to share files and folders with others, but they can set permissions to control who can access and edit the files.
4. Limited access: Dropbox allows users to set expiration dates for shared links, and also allows users to password protect shared links.
5. Regular security audits: Dropbox regularly audits its systems and infrastructure to ensure the security of user data.
6. Compliance: Dropbox is compliant with several security and data protection standards, including HIPAA, SOC 2, and GDPR.

At ProScan we offer our document scanning clients Owncloud, which whilst not so well known, it still uses the same encryption standards as other providers, such as AES-256 encryption to protect data both in transit and at rest. It also has built-in support for two-factor authentication, and allows users to set permissions and access controls on shared files and folders.

To summarise, whilst Cloud Storage can be considered safe, it's important to note that no system can be completely secure and that a user's action such as poor password management or sharing information with an unverified person can compromise the security of their data on any platform.