Cloud computing is valuable to businesses that want to increase productivity and become more efficient because it eases collaboration between employees and encourages remote work. Employees in companies that operate on cloud platforms can seamlessly store files on cloud servers and retrieve them at will from any location. They are also able to share business files even when not in the same office building.
This connectivity allows companies to manage a global workforce because employees based abroad can easily communicate with their colleagues and send work files when needed. They can do this on any operating system including Linux. Unfortunately, this convenience comes with cybersecurity risks that can drive a company out of business if not managed properly.
Cybercriminals often target businesses that store their data on cloud servers because gaining unauthorized access to them can make them privy to information they can sell for profit. They can also disrupt operations, leak data, and hold the affected business to ransom. Data breaches can make a company violate data protection laws if their customers’ personal information is leaked to the public. These violations can attract financial penalties, irreparable reputational harm, and legal trouble.
These consequences can have long-lasting impacts that can drive a company out of business. It is in their best interest that they abide by the IT compliance frameworks designed to prevent these issues.
What is IT Compliance?
IT compliance is the adherence to the IT requirements imposed on a company by its management team, third-party organizations, or government bodies that have oversight authority over it. The organizations in this context can be third-party vendors, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and other entities known for creating security frameworks.
IT compliance requirements can apply to a company’s entire IT infrastructure. This includes internet devices, computer hardware components, and software that runs on Linux, Windows, MacOS and other operating systems. However, some compliance requirements are exclusive to their cloud environment. Those IT compliance frameworks will strengthen their cloud security and protect them from internal and external threats.
The compliance requirements often vary from business to business, and everyone in the organization has to adhere to them. This is because cybercriminals can exploit any weakness to gain unauthorized access to a company’s cloud systems.
The International Organisation for Standardization created ISO 27017 and ISO 27018 frameworks to give businesses the guidance needed to protect their data on cloud platforms. Most governments around the world have their own data privacy regulations that they enforce by performing audits and penalizing companies that refuse to comply.
Third-party vendors usually have their IT compliance requirements stated in their contract with a company and non-compliance can result in the termination of that contract.
Every business’s IT infrastructure is set up uniquely. Most of them mainly use Windows, Linux, or Mac operating systems for their computers, depending on the features and software programs they need for their operations. In many cases, companies also use cloud computing systems, so managers and cybersecurity professionals configure their systems to fit the cloud security requirements they are subject to. Some of these requirements include implementing identity management and access controls, training employees to identify potential threats, and installing activity monitoring and alert systems.
Endnote
Cloud security should be taken seriously because cybercriminals are actively looking for companies with vulnerabilities they can exploit. Adhering to the relevant IT compliance frameworks will protect them from attacks and the accompanying business disruptions. It will also save them from fines and reputational damage that can result from non-compliance.
