Store Your Data Safely With Cloud Storage

Cloud storage has become more popular as a storage solution as we use more and more different electronic devices. Phones, tablets, computers, home security systems and other electronic devices are finding their way into the average household.

Having those devices connected and able to access files is not only convenient but necessary. When you take a photo with your phone, the photo should be automatically accessible via your tablet or computer. 

With cloud storage, this is possible. In a sentence: Cloud storage is a web-based service that stores digital information for you, allowing you to access it from any device with an internet connection. You can learn more in this article about what “the cloud” is. 

If you already use a service like Google Drive, Dropbox, or Apple’s iCloud, you’re already using the cloud! There are plenty of benefits to these services, but there’s also probably a lot of very sensitive information stored in the cloud, including tax documents, medical history, receipts, and more that all have your personal information on them. 

By paying special attention to your cloud storage safety, you can minimize these risks by learning how to protect your accounts and data when using these services.

What is Cloud Storage? 

Cloud storage is a service that you usually pay for, where a company gives you a certain amount of digital “storage space” that you can use to store files uploaded from your computer and other devices. It’s like renting out a digital storage unit, except you can access that unit from anywhere with an internet-connected device.

Cloud storage can be used to store:

• Albums of photos, images, and videos
• Important documents like tax information, bank statements, contracts, and more
• Apps, programs, and files that you may want to send between devices. 

How to Use Cloud Storage?

Find a cloud storage solution that fits your needs! Some top online storage solutions include:

• Dropbox
• iCloud
• Google Drive
• OneDrive
• Amazon Web Services Cloud Storage

Just like renting a storage unit, most cloud storage solutions charge you depending on how much “room” (or storage) you require. Some solutions like Google Drive give you 15 gigabytes of space to use for free. After that, if you need more space, you pay a monthly or annual subscription depending on how much space you need. Currently, Google One is $29.99 a year for 200 GB of cloud storage space and $99.99 a year for 2 TB. 

Once you’ve selected a service, you download the app on all your devices or head to their website to access your storage space. The best part is that this storage space is tied to your Gmail account, rather than the device. So, if you want to store photos on your cloud storage from your phone, you can then pull them up on your tablet or computer as long as you’re logged into the account!

Is Cloud Storage Safe?

Yes, reputable cloud storage solutions are safe to use. Most cloud storage solutions have advanced security at the locations where they maintain the electronics that store your data. These solutions also have layers of electronic security, so it’s very difficult to breach their network. Data breaches do happen, but because so many people use cloud storage solutions, a significant portion of the company expenses are invested into security. 

However, as secure as the data is, your information will still be locked behind a username and password rather than a physical location. If someone gets access to your account information, it’s like they found the key to your storage unit. They can get inside and access, download, or delete anything that they find in your cloud storage. Therefore, it’s important to create a strong password and use two-factor authentication to secure your cloud storage account. 

Create Strong Passwords and Use Two-Factor Authentication

When creating a strong password, we recommend using:

• Using a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters with…
• Numbers and …
• Symbols.
• Don’t use information that can be publicly found about you (birthdate, pet’s name)
• Don’t write down or store your passwords somewhere that’s not secure.

Some people find it helpful to use a password manager like KeePass or 1Password so they don’t feel the need to use the same password across multiple sites. This stores your passwords securely, so you don’t have to worry about writing them down somewhere else. 

Additionally, make sure to turn on two-factor authentication (2FA) when available. Two-factor authentication is where verification from multiple electronic devices is required before you log into your account. Simply put, if someone gets your username and password, the service will still send a code to your email, phone, or another device to confirm that it’s you who’s logging in. 

Check Your Cloud Sharing Settings

Who can access your cloud storage? Is it just you and your devices, or is it anyone that you’ve shared files with? Cloud storage solutions allow you to share files with other people across the web, but you should be careful who you let have access to your files!

If you use the wrong settings, unauthorized people may be able to access your files. Be careful who you grant access to and make sure not to leave unrestricted links available to others. Most cloud services make it easy to see who you’re sharing your content with, so check who you’re currently sharing files with to make sure you’re comfortable with them seeing whatever you’ve shared. Some services even let you set an expiry date on shared files, so use this whenever you can!

Get Rid of “Deleted” Files with Sensitive Information

When you delete a file from your computer, it usually goes straight to the Recycle Bin so that you can restore accidentally deleted files. Most cloud storage services have a similar system that stores your “deleted” files for a set number of days. However, if you want to delete something that contains sensitive information, make sure to fully delete the file — including from the service’s recycle bin.

Files inside a recycle bin can still be restored until you empty the bin. This means that sensitive files can still be recovered by someone who gets access to your account. 

In some cases, you can do this simply by finding a button that says, “Empty Trash” or a similar phrase. In others, you might need to dig around in the settings menu to truly delete your files.

Review Your Connected Apps and Account

Even if you take precautions like using 2FA and a strong password, your cloud storage account is only as safe as the apps and accounts you let access it. Some services allow you to link things like calendar apps or your email to your storage account. However, these apps may not be as secure. Follow the same security advice for those accounts as you do for everything else. Plus, regularly check what apps have access to your cloud storage and remove any you’re not actively using.

Turn on New Sign-In Alerts

One of the best ways to protect your data is simple: Enable sign-in alerts. By turning this setting on, your cloud storage service will notify you whenever an unrecognized sign-in occurs. It may even allow you to verify whether or not the sign-in was you, so the cloud storage will automatically log that user out if it wasn’t you. 

In some cases, you can activate similar alerts for various activities affecting your accounts. This might include deleting files, creating folders, or sharing content, so you’ll always know if someone is changing things without your permission.

Enable Your Account Recovery Settings

You’re inevitably going to upgrade phones, swap tablets, or change computers over the years. But what do you do with those devices? Are they in storage somewhere or do you throw them away, recycle them, or donate them?

You must remember to remove your old devices that still have access to your cloud storage. Someone who might use those devices in the future can use your old data and may even be able to get into your cloud storage account. Even if you properly wipe your devices, particularly skilled individuals may still be able to restore them. 

Go into your cloud storage account when you get a new device and manually removing those devices’ access is the best, easiest way to secure your data.

Also, before getting rid of any device, do a factory reset, which should wipe the device’s memory clean of your data.

Following these few simple tips allows you to protect yourself and your data when using cloud storage services. For some additional protection, make sure to use secure browsers like the one within OneLaunch. Its new features and security measures protect you and your data from nefarious websites or online attacks while ensuring the best browsing experience possible.