After years of cautiousness, the cloud has finally been widely accepted by the legal industry in recent years. Even though this innovative technology has met the tough scrutiny and expectations of lawyers, that doesn’t mean it’s foolproof. Design flaws and security gaps exist in every technology, and nothing is resistant to human error on the part of the user.
If you’re taking advantage of cloud technology, that’s a great step in fully modernizing your IT infrastructure, but there are still mistakes you need to avoid to make your work life easier! Check out these security tips for using cloud computing.
The Pitfalls
- Don’t share your login information with anyone else in your office, even if it’s someone you work closely with. The more people that know your login credentials, the harder it is to pinpoint what happened if a file goes mysteriously missing or crucial client data was shared to someone it shouldn’t have been. Remember, coworkers can eventually become disgruntled ex-employees, and you don’t want any of those knowing your account information!
- Avoid using work-related applications or email servers on public Wi-Fi. Hackers use man-in-the-middle attacks to prey on people using unprotected public internet connections in places such as Starbucks, hotels, libraries and airports to get access to login information.
- Be careful of the security questions you use for various accounts. A lot of these seem like information only you would know, but questions such as what your mother’s maiden name is or what high school you went to can easily be looked up on the internet or by going through your social media! In addition, utilize two-factor authentication for important services such as email.
- Always make sure your computers, as well as any other software, is updated. Your cloud solutions provider can help you with this, and even do it for you automatically so you don’t even have to worry about it. The longer you use out-of-date technology, the greater the risk you run of getting hacked. New viruses and threats are constantly coming out of the woodwork, and it’s too much to keep track of on top of the work lawyers already do, so leave it to the cloud provider to deal with that!
- Don’t use your work computer for personal activities, and vice versa. If you use work applications on a personal computer that multiple people, for example a spouse or child, has access to, you or that other person may inadvertently introduce a virus into your company’s network. People unknowingly visit dangerous sites or download harmful malware all the time, so it’s best to mitigate the damage by keeping your work computer and your personal computer separate.
For more information on how to boost your company’s cyber defense using the cloud, please visit the TOSS C3 website and read our White Pages. You can also call us anytime at 1-888-884-8677!