When it comes to cloud storage, convenience is the biggest draw. You can access your files from anywhere, and collaborate effortlessly. However, this convenience may come with security issues and risks. Storing sensitive or critical files in the cloud can expose them to potential security threats. That’s why there are certain things you should avoid backing up to the cloud at all costs.
Content
- 1. Financial Documents
- 2. Private Media Files
- 3. Intellectual Property (IP) and Business Information
- 4. Passwords
- 5. Legal Documents
- 6. Personal ID Proofs
- Avoid Cloud Storage Security Issues and Risks
1. Financial Documents
Storing sensitive financial documents like bank account details, credit card numbers, tax returns, loan papers, and similar records in the cloud is risky. If unauthorized individuals compromise your cloud storage account, they can use your financial information for fraud. They can use your documents to withdraw money from your accounts or take unauthorized loans in your name. This could lead to significant financial losses, and you can also lose your credit score.
Image source:
Pixabay
Even if you don’t experience direct financial losses, dealing with the aftermath of a data breach can be a time-consuming and stressful. You need to contact your bank, credit card companies, and other financial institutions to take steps to protect your accounts and prevent further damage. This includes blocking your bank accounts and freezing your credit cards for any further usage.
It is best not to store any financial records on the cloud.
2. Private Media Files
People love to capture their special private moments as lifelong memories. That is fine. But storing them on the cloud is not. If you’re storing explicit media there, you should be concerned about the potential consequences.
Image source:
Unsplash
If your cloud storage account is compromised, your private media can be leaked online. The scammers can threaten you with the release of your sensitive private photos unless you comply with a demand, often for money or other favors. The risk of a sextortion scam is inevitable if your private media files are leaked.
The infamous 2014 iCloud celebrity photo leak serves as a stark reminder of this danger. Cybercriminals hacked the iCloud accounts of several celebrities and stole explicit photos, which they then spread online, causing significant harm. Hence, it is best to keep your private media files off the cloud.
3. Intellectual Property (IP) and Business Information
Businesses and organizations own unique intangible assets called intellectual property (IP). These assets are protected by law and can be bought, sold, or licensed.
Common types of intellectual property include:
- Copyrights: Protect original works of authorship, such as books, music, movies, and software.
- Patents: Grant exclusive rights to inventors for their inventions.
- Trademarks: Protect distinctive signs that identify goods or services, such as brand names, logos, and slogans.
- Trade secrets: Confidential information that gives a company a competitive advantage, such as formulas, recipes, manufacturing processes, or customer lists.
Image source:
Pexels
In addition to intellectual property, critical business information like customer lists and financial records is essential for every organization.
A single data breach can expose valuable business data, giving competitors a chance to use stolen intellectual property and business information to create competing products or services. This can reduce your market share and revenue. In addition to financial losses, your business may suffer reputational damage, leading to a decline in customer trust and brand value.
The legal battle to protect stolen IP and recover damages can be costly and time-consuming. Therefore, it’s wise to avoid storing your business information and intellectual property on cloud storage platforms for safety reasons.
Tip: Confused between local backups vs cloud backups? Find out which is better.
4. Passwords
Passwords are crucial for protecting our digital lives. They safeguard our personal information, financial accounts, and online identities. Many people store these passwords in a simple text file, even worse, they save it on the cloud.
Image source:
Freepik
A breach of your cloud storage account will expose your entire digital life to potential breaches.
A safer option is to use a password manager instead of storing passwords in a text file. You only need to remember one strong master password. The manager will automatically generate unique, strong passwords for each of your online accounts. It will also alert you to any compromised passwords, helping to protect your accounts and reduce the risk of identity theft.
Tip: Are you worried about your password safety? This guide will help you to protect your password.
5. Legal Documents
Legal documents, such as court orders, judgments, and communications with attorneys, are highly confidential. These documents are at a higher risk of unauthorized access or misuse.
Image source:
Pexels
Storing important legal documents on the cloud risks exposing sensitive information like contracts, legal advice, and confidential client data. This can result in serious legal and financial consequences.
6. Personal ID Proofs
The government-issued IDs like passports, driver’s licenses, national identity cards, and social security cards are highly sensitive personal information that should be protected at all costs. Storing any of these documents in the cloud puts them at risk of being accessed by unauthorized individuals.
Image source:
Unsplash
If your cloud account is compromised, hackers can steal your personal information and use it for identity theft, phishing, or social engineering attacks. They may even use your stolen identity cards to take out loans or obtain SIM cards for illegal activities.
Additionally, hackers can use your personal information to easily reset your online passwords and gain access to sensitive information on the internet.
Avoid Cloud Storage Security Issues and Risks
Here are some tips you can use to protect your cloud storage:
- Strong and Unique Passwords with Regular Updates: Use complex passwords that combine uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols for cloud storage accounts. Avoid using easily guessable information like birthdays, pet names, or common phrases. Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) for added security.
- Data Encryption: If possible, encrypt your data before uploading it to the cloud.
- Access Controls: Implement proper access controls to limit who can view, edit, or delete your data. Assign appropriate permissions based on roles and responsibilities.
- Backup Regularly: Create regular backups of your data to a local or external storage device. This will serve as a safeguard in case of data loss or corruption.
- Vendor Quality: Research and choose a reputable cloud storage provider with a strong security track record. Look for certifications like ISO 27001 and SOC 2 Type II, which indicate adherence to security standards.
- Be Mindful While Sharing: Exercise caution when sharing files with others. Avoid sharing sensitive data with individuals or organizations you don’t trust.
- Monitor Your Activity: Keep an eye on your cloud storage account activity for any suspicious signs. Look for unauthorized login attempts or unusual file downloads.
If you want to know more about Encryption, learn how PGP Encryption works, and how you can get started. Also, if you’re worried about your data breach, check these best Dark Web Scanners.
Image credit: Unsplash
Yash has over six years of experience working in the tech industry. After working for over 3 years as a Software Engineer, he shifted his focus to empowering readers through informative and engaging content on his tech blog – DiGiTAL BiRYANi. He loves to explore new tech gadgets and platforms. When he is not writing, you’ll find him exploring food. He is known as Digital Chef Yash among his readers because of his love for Technology and Food.
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