Each new integration acts as a bridge between different systems, or between your data and third-party systems. This bridging raises data security and privacy concerns, meaning you need to learn how to vet new SaaS integrations with the seriousness they require. 

Protecting Your Business from Third-Party Risk

A weak link can lead to compliance failures or, even worse, catastrophic data breaches. Adopting a rigorous, repeatable vetting process transforms potential liability into secure guarantees.

If you’re not convinced, just look at the T-Mobile data breach of 2023. While the initial vector was a zero-day vulnerability in their environment, a key challenge in the fallout was the sheer number of third-party vendors and systems T-Mobile relied upon. In highly interconnected systems, a vulnerability in one area can be exploited to gain access to other systems, including those managed by third parties. The incident highlighted how a sprawling digital ecosystem multiplies the attack surface. By contrast, a structured vetting process, which maps the tool’s data flow, enforces the principle of least privilege, and ensures vendors provide a SOC 2 Type II report, drastically minimizes this attack surface.

A proactive vetting strategy ensures you are not just securing your systems, but you are also fulfilling your legal and regulatory obligations, thereby safeguarding your company’s reputation and financial health.

5 Steps for Vetting Your SaaS Integrations

To prevent these weak links, let’s look at some smart and systematic SaaS vendor/product evaluation processes that protect your business from third-party risk. 

1. Scrutinize the SaaS Vendor’s Security Posture

After being enticed by the SaaS product features, it is important to investigate the people behind the service. A nice interface means nothing without having a solid security foundation. Your first steps should be examining the vendor’s certifications and, in particular, asking them about the SOC 2 Type II report. This is an independent audit report that verifies the effectiveness of a retail SaaS vendor’s controls over the confidentiality, integrity, availability, security, and privacy of their systems.

Additionally, do a background check on the founders, the vendor’s breach history, how long they have been around, and their transparency policies. A reputable company will be open about its security practices and will also reveal how it handles vulnerability or breach disclosures. This initial background check is the most important step in your vetting since it separates serious vendors from risky ones. 

2. Chart the Tool’s Data Access and Flow

You need to understand exactly what data the SaaS integration will touch, and you can achieve this by asking a simple, direct question: What access permissions does this app require? Be wary of any tool that requests global “read and write” access to your entire environment. Use the principle of least privilege: grant applications only the access necessary to complete their tasks, and nothing more.

Have your IT team chart the information flow in a diagram to track where your data goes, where it is stored, and how it is transmitted. You must know its journey from start to finish. A reputable vendor will encrypt data both at rest and in transit and provide transparency on where your data is stored, including the geographical location. This exercise in third-party risk management reveals the full scope of the SaaS integration’s reach into your systems. 

3. Examine Their Compliance and Legal Agreements

If your company must comply with regulations such as GDPR, then your vendors must also be compliant. Carefully review their terms of service and privacy policies for language that specifies their role as a data processor versus a data controller and confirm that they will sign a Data Processing Addendum (DPA) if required. 

Pay particular attention to where your vendor stores your data at rest, i.e., the location of their data centers, since your data may be subject to data sovereignty regulations that you are unaware of. Ensure that your vendor does not store your data in countries or regions with lax privacy laws. While reviewing legal fine print may seem tedious, it is critical, as it determines liability and responsibility if something goes wrong.

4. Analyze the SaaS Integration’s Authentication Techniques

How the service connects with your system is also a key factor. Choose integrations that use modern and secure authentication protocols such as OAuth 2.0, which allow services to connect without directly sharing usernames and passwords.

The provider should also offer administrator dashboards that enable IT teams to grant or revoke access instantly. Avoid services that require you to share login credentials, and instead prioritize strong, standards-based authentication.

5. Plan for the End of the Partnership

Every technology integration follows a lifecycle and will eventually be deprecated, upgraded, or replaced. Before installing, know how to uninstall it cleanly by asking questions such as:

• What is the data export process after the contract ends?
• Will the data be available in a standard format for future use?
• How does the vendor ensure permanent deletion of all your information from their servers?

A responsible vendor will have clear, well-documented offboarding procedures. This forward-thinking strategy prevents data orphanage, ensuring you retain control over your data long after the partnership ends. Planning for the exit demonstrates strategic IT management and a mature vendor assessment process.

Build a Fortified Digital Ecosystem

Modern businesses run on complex systems comprising webs of interconnected services where data moves from in-house systems, through the Internet, and into third-party systems and servers for processing, and vice versa. Since you cannot operate in isolation, vetting is essential to avoid connecting blindly.

Your best bet for safe integration and minimizing the attack surface is to develop a rigorous, repeatable process for vetting SaaS integrations. The five tips above provide a solid baseline, transforming potential liability into secure guarantees.

Protect your business and gain confidence in every SaaS integration, contact us today to secure your technology stack.

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This Article has been Republished with Permission from The Technology Press.

<p>The post The Smarter Way to Vet Your SaaS Integrations first appeared on Digital Technology Solutions.</p>

You can, and it doesn’t take a week to set up. We’ll show you how to use Entra Conditional Access to create a self-cleaning system for contractor access in roughly sixty minutes. It’s about working smarter, not harder, and finally closing that security gap for good.

The Financial and Compliance Case for Automated Revocation

Implementing automated access revocation for contractors is not just about better security; it’s a critical component of financial risk management and regulatory compliance. The biggest risk in contractor management is relying on human memory to manually delete accounts and revoke permissions after a project ends. Forgotten accounts with lingering access, often referred to as “dormant” or “ghost” accounts, are a prime target for cyber-attackers. If an attacker compromises a dormant account, they can operate inside your network without detection, as no one is monitoring an “inactive” user.

For example, many security reports cite the Target data breach in 2013 as a stark illustration. Attackers gained initial entry into Target’s network by compromising the credentials of a third-party HVAC contractor that had legitimate, yet overly permissive, access to the network for billing purposes. If Target had enforced the principle of least privilege, limiting the vendor’s access only to the necessary billing system, the lateral movement that compromised millions of customer records could have been contained or prevented entirely.

By leveraging Microsoft Entra Conditional Access to set a sign-in frequency and instantly revoke access when a contractor is removed from the security group, you eliminate the chance of lingering permissions. This automation ensures that you are consistently applying the principle of least privilege, significantly reducing your attack surface and demonstrating due diligence for auditors under regulations like GDPR or HIPAA. It turns a high-risk, manual task into a reliable, self-managing system.

Set Up a Security Group for Contractors

The first step to taming the chaos is organization. Applying rules individually is a recipe for forgotten accounts and a major security risk. Instead, go to your Microsoft Entra admin center (formerly Azure AD admin center) and create a new security group with a clear, descriptive name, something like ‘External-Contractors’ or ‘Temporary-Access’.

This group becomes your central control point. Add each new contractor to it when they start and remove them when their project ends. This single step lays the foundation for clean, scalable management in Entra.

Build Your Set-and-Forget Expiration Policy

Next, set up the policy that automatically handles access revocation for you. Conditional Access does the heavy lifting so you don’t have to. In the Entra portal, create a new Conditional Access policy and assign it to your “External-Contractors” group. Then, define the conditions that determine how and when access is granted or removed.

In the “Grant” section, enforce Multi-Factor Authentication to add an essential layer of security. Next, under “Session,” locate the “Sign-in frequency” setting and set it to 90 days, or whatever duration matches your contracts. This not only prompts regular logins but ensures that once a contractor is removed from the group, they can no longer re-authenticate, automatically locking the door behind them.

Lock Down Access to Just the Tools They Need

Think about what a contractor actually does. A freelance writer needs access to your content management system, but probably not your financial software. A web developer needs to reach staging servers, but has no business in your HR platform. Your next policy ensures they only get the keys to the rooms they need.

Next, create a second Conditional Access policy for your contractor group. Under “Cloud apps,” select only the applications they are permitted to use, such as Slack, Teams, Microsoft Office, or a specific SharePoint site. Then, set the control to “Block” for all other apps. Think of this as building a custom firewall around each user. It’s a powerful way to reduce risk, applying the principle of least privilege: give users access only to the tools and permissions they need to do their job, and nothing more.

Add an Extra Layer of Security with Strong Authentication

For an even more robust setup, you can layer in device and authentication requirements. You are not going to manage a contractor’s personal laptop, and that is okay. However, it is your business and systems they will be using, and this means that you get to control how they prove their identity. The goal is to make it very difficult for an attacker to misuse their credentials.

You can configure a policy that requires a compliant device, then use the “OR” function to allow access if the user signs in with a phishing-resistant method, such as the Microsoft Authenticator app. This encourages contractors to adopt your strongest authentication method without creating friction, while fully leveraging the security capabilities of Microsoft Entra.

Watch the System Work for You Automatically

The greatest benefit is that once configured, contractor access becomes largely automatic. When a new contractor joins the security group, they instantly receive the access you’ve defined, complete with all security controls. When their project ends and you remove them from the group, access is revoked immediately and completely, including any active sessions, eliminating any chance of lingering permissions.

This automation removes the biggest risk, relying on someone to remember to act. It turns a high-risk, manual task into a reliable, self-managing system, eliminating concerns about forgotten accounts and their security risks, so you can focus on the business work that really matters.

Take Back Control of Your Cloud Security

Managing contractor access doesn’t have to be stressful. With a little upfront setup in Conditional Access policies, you can create a system that’s both highly secure and effortlessly automatic. Grant precise access for a defined period, and enjoy the peace of mind that comes from knowing access is revoked automatically. It’s a win for security, productivity, and your peace of mind.

Take control of contractor access today, contact us to build your own set-and-forget access system.

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This Article has been Republished with Permission from The Technology Press.

<p>The post How to Use Conditional Access to Grant and Revoke Contractor Access in 60 Minutes first appeared on Digital Technology Solutions.</p>

The core principle of Zero Trust is simple but powerful: never trust, always verify. No device or user gains automatic trust just because they’re on your guest network. Here are some practical steps to create a secure and professional guest Wi-Fi environment.

Business Benefits of Zero Trust Guest Wi-Fi

Implementing a Zero Trust guest Wi-Fi network is not just a technical necessity; it’s a strategic business decision that delivers clear financial and reputational benefits. By moving away from a risky shared password system, you significantly reduce the likelihood of costly security incidents. A single compromised guest device can act as a gateway for attacks on your entire business , leading to devastating downtime, data breaches, and regulatory fines. The proactive measures of isolation, verification, and policy enforcement are an investment in business continuity.

Consider the Marriott data breach where attackers gained access to their network through a third-party access point, eventually compromising the personal information of millions of guests. While not specifically a Wi-Fi breach, it serves as a stark reminder of the massive financial and reputational damage caused by an insecure network entry point. A Zero Trust guest network, which strictly isolates guest traffic from corporate systems, would prevent this lateral movement and contain any threat to the public internet.

Build a Totally Isolated Guest Network

The first and most crucial step is complete separation. Your guest network should never mix with your business traffic. This can be achieved through strict network segmentation by setting up a dedicated Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) for guests. This guest VLAN should run on its own unique IP range, entirely isolated from your corporate systems.

Then, configure your firewall with explicit rules that block all communication attempts from the guest VLAN to your primary corporate VLAN. The only destination your guests should be able to reach is the public internet. This strategic containment ensures that if a guest device is infected with malware, it cannot pivot laterally to attack your servers, file shares, or sensitive data.

Implement a Professional Captive Portal

Get rid of the static password immediately. A fixed code is easily shared, impossible to track, and a hassle to revoke for just one person. Instead, implement a professional captive portal, like the branded splash page you encounter when connecting to Wi-Fi at a hotel or conference. This portal serves as the front door to your Zero Trust guest Wi-Fi.

When a guest tries to connect, their device is redirected to the portal. You can configure it securely in several ways. For example, a receptionist could generate a unique login code that expires in 8 or 24 hours, or visitors could provide their name and email to receive access. For even stronger security, a one-time password sent via SMS can be used. Each of these methods enforces the ‘never trust’ principle, turning what would be an anonymous connection into a fully identified session.

Enforce Policies via Network Access Control

Having a captive portal is a great start, but to achieve true guest network security, you need more powerful enforcement, and that is where a Network Access Control (NAC) solution comes into play. NAC acts like a bouncer for your network, checking every device before it is allowed to join, and you can integrate it within your captive portal for a seamless yet secure experience.

A NAC solution can be configured to perform various device security posture checks, such as verifying whether the connecting guest device has a basic firewall enabled or whether it has the most up-to-date system security patches. If the guest’s device fails these posture checks, the NAC can redirect it to a walled garden with links to download patch updates or simply block access entirely. This proactive approach prevents vulnerable devices from introducing risks into your network. 

Apply Strict Access Time and Bandwidth Limits 

Trust isn’t just about determining who is reliable, it’s about controlling how long they have access and what they can do on your network. A contractor doesn’t need the same continuous access as a full-time employee. Use your NAC or firewall to enforce strict session timeouts, requiring users to re-authenticate after a set period, such as every 12 hours.

Similarly, implement bandwidth throttling on the guest network. In most cases, a guest only needs basic internet access to perform general tasks such as reading their emails and web browsing. This means limiting guest users from engaging in activities such as 4K video streaming and downloading torrent files that use up the valuable internet bandwidth needed for your business operations. While these limitations may seem impolite, they are well in line with the Zero Trust principle of granting least privilege. It is also a good business practice to prevent network congestion by activities that do not align with your business operations.

Create a Secure and Welcoming Experience

Implementing a Zero Trust guest Wi-Fi network is no longer an advanced feature reserved for large enterprises, but a fundamental security requirement for businesses of all sizes. It protects your core assets while simultaneously providing a professional, convenient service for your visitors. The process hinges on a layered approach of segmentation, verification, and continuous policy enforcement, and effectively closes a commonly exploited and overlooked network entry point.

Do you want to secure your office guest Wi-Fi without the complexity? Contact us today to learn more. 

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This Article has been Republished with Permission from The Technology Press.

<p>The post How to Implement Zero Trust for Your Office Guest Wi-Fi Network first appeared on Digital Technology Solutions.</p>

Most public AI tools use the data you provide to train and improve their models. This means every prompt entered into a tool like ChatGPT or Gemini could become part of their training data. A single mistake by an employee could expose client information, internal strategies, or proprietary code and processes. As a business owner or manager, it’s essential to prevent data leakage before it turns into a serious liability.

Financial and Reputational Protection

Integrating AI into your business workflows is essential for staying competitive, but doing it safely is your top priority. The cost of a data leak resulting from careless AI use far outweighs the cost of preventative measures. A single mistake by an employee could expose internal strategies, proprietary code, or sensitive client information. This can lead to devastating financial losses from regulatory fines, loss of competitive advantage, and the long-term damage to your company’s reputation.

Consider the real-world example of Samsung in 2023. Multiple employees at the company’s semiconductor division, in a rush for efficiency, accidentally leaked confidential data by pasting it into ChatGPT. The leaks included source code for new semiconductors and confidential meeting recordings, which were then retained by the public AI model for training. This wasn’t a sophisticated cyberattack, it was human error resulting from a lack of clear policy and technical guardrails. As a result, Samsung had to implement a company-wide ban on generative AI tools to prevent future breaches.

6 Prevention Strategies

Here are six practical strategies to secure your interactions with AI tools and build a culture of security awareness.

1. Establish a Clear AI Security Policy

When it comes to something this critical, guesswork won’t cut it. Your first line of defense is a formal policy that clearly outlines how public AI tools should be used. This policy must define what counts as confidential information and specify which data should never be entered into a public AI model, such as social security numbers, financial records, merger discussions, or product roadmaps.

Educate your team on this policy during onboarding and reinforce it with quarterly refresher sessions to ensure everyone understands the serious consequences of non-compliance. A clear policy removes ambiguity and establishes firm security standards.

2. Mandate the Use of Dedicated Business Accounts

Free, public AI tools often include hidden data-handling terms because their primary goal is improving the model. Upgrading to business tiers such as ChatGPT Team or Enterprise, Google Workspace, or Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365 is essential. These commercial agreements explicitly state that customer data is not used to train models. By contrast, free or Plus versions of ChatGPT use customer data for model training by default, though users can adjust settings to limit this.

The data privacy guarantees provided by commercial AI vendors, which ensure that your business inputs will not be used to train public models, establish a critical technical and legal barrier between your sensitive information and the open internet. With these business-tier agreements, you’re not just purchasing features; you’re securing robust AI privacy and compliance assurances from the vendor.

3. Implement Data Loss Prevention Solutions with AI Prompt Protection

Human error and intentional misuse are unavoidable. An employee might accidentally paste confidential information into a public AI chat or attempt to upload a document containing sensitive client PII. You can prevent this by implementing data loss prevention (DLP) solutions that stop data leakage at the source. Tools like Cloudflare DLP and Microsoft Purview offer advanced browser-level context analysis, scanning prompts and file uploads in real time before they ever reach the AI platform.

These DLP solutions automatically block data flagged as sensitive or confidential. For unclassified data, they use contextual analysis to redact information that matches predefined patterns, like credit card numbers, project code names, or internal file paths. Together, these safeguards create a safety net that detects, logs, and reports errors before they escalate into serious data breaches.

4. Conduct Continuous Employee Training 

Even the most airtight AI use policy is useless if all it does is sit in a shared folder. Security is a living practice that evolves as the threats advance, and memos or basic compliance lectures are never enough. 

Conduct interactive workshops where employees practice crafting safe and effective prompts using real-world scenarios from their daily tasks. This hands-on training teaches them to de-identify sensitive data before analysis, turning staff into active participants in data security while still leveraging AI for efficiency.

5. Conduct Regular Audits of AI Tool Usage and Logs

Any security program only works if it’s actively monitored. You need clear visibility into how your teams are using public AI tools. Business-grade tiers provide admin dashboards, make it a habit to review these weekly or monthly. Watch for unusual activity, patterns, or alerts that could signal potential policy violations before they become a problem.

Audits are never about assigning blame, but identifying gaps in training or weaknesses in your technology stack. Reviewing logs might help you discover which team or department needs extra guidance or indicate areas to refine and close loopholes. 

6. Cultivate a Culture of Security Mindfulness

Even the best policies and technical controls can fail without a culture that supports them. Business leaders must lead by example, promoting secure AI practices and encouraging employees to ask questions without fear of reprimand.

This cultural shift turns security into everyone’s responsibility, creating collective vigilance that outperforms any single tool. Your team becomes your strongest line of defense in protecting your data.

Make AI Safety a Core Business Practice

Integrating AI into your business workflows is no longer optional, it’s essential for staying competitive and boosting efficiency. That makes doing it safely and responsibly your top priority. The six strategies we’ve outlined provide a strong foundation to harness AI’s potential while protecting your most valuable data. 

Take the next step toward secure AI adoption, contact us today to formalize your approach and safeguard your business.

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This Article has been Republished with Permission from The Technology Press.

<p>The post 6 Ways to Prevent Leaking Private Data Through Public AI Tools first appeared on Digital Technology Solutions.</p>

An effective browser security strategy involves keeping browsers up to date, being careful about which cookies you allow, being mindful of session tokens and only browsing trusted websites.

In this article, I discuss why browser security is important and which security practices you can implement into your day-to-day browsing experience to keep your organization safe from attacks.

Why is Browser Security Important?

Browser security is the practice of fortifying your browsing experience in a way that makes it less likely for you to fall victim to attacks that occur through an internet browser.

This protects you from several threats, including:

• Data loss – Hackers use browser attacks to steal information like your name, email address, credit and debit card information, phone numbers, and passwords
• Account takeovers – Attackers don’t always gain access to your passwords in attacks, but they can take over your accounts if they’re able to successfully hijack your browser’s cookies
• Keylogging – Certain attacks can execute a keylogger on your device, which logs every keystroke you make with your keyboard
• Downtime – You’ll need to spend time securing your account, devices and information if a hacker gains access to them. You may even need to set up new devices
• Financial loss – Attacks can be quite costly. First, if an attacker gains access to your financial information, they can drain your accounts before you’re able to freeze them. Second, you’ll likely need to hire an IT expert to help secure your devices and recover data. Third, you might lose sales if the attack results in loss of trust among your customer base

Implementing browser security measures can help protect you from these kinds of threats. But how do hackers initiate attacks through browsers?

There are a few different types of browser attacks hackers use:

• Session hijacking
• Phishing attempts
• Compromised extensions
• Malware
• Cross-site scripting
• Man-in-the-middle attacks

Related: Essential Security Practices for Remote Workers

Session Hijacking

This type of attack commonly occurs through an executable file that disguises itself as another file type, including text files and PDF files.

Also known as “cookie hijacking,” this attack hijacks session tokens in your browser, giving the attacker access to any account you’re logged into since logins are saved as unique session identifiers in your browser (usually cookies).

This gives an attacker access to your account without needing to log in with a username, password or multifactor authentication.

Other methods of attack include intercepting traffic from an unsecured public WiFi connection, cross-site scripting (XSS), and intercepting a connection between your browser and an application’s web server.

Related: Unexpected Ways Hackers Can Access Your Accounts

Phishing Attacks

Phishing attacks are nothing new, so there’s a good chance you’re already familiar with them.

A phishing attack is a security threat that disguises itself as a real message, such as an email that contains a link that executes malware when you click on it.

You might also experience phishing attempts that link to what appears to be a legitimate login page for a site you regularly visit but is actually a form that’s designed to steal your login credentials.

Compromised Extensions

Unfortunately, browser extensions can be a source of attack. Compromised browser extensions allow hackers to execute malicious code in your browser or on your device.

Some browser extensions are malicious by nature. They disguise themselves as real extensions but are actually clever ways for hackers to gain access to your information.

Other attacks that occur through extensions occur when legitimate browser extensions get hacked, which can happen through sophisticated attacks or when developers don’t implement security patches quick enough.

Malware

Malware is one of the most common threats linked to internet browsers. While trustworthy sites and applications can become compromised, most malware is delivered through the browser due to user error.

Malware comes in many different forms. How it impacts your device is dependent on the attacker’s goal.

Common uses include session hijacking, data theft, ransomware, adware and spyware.

Related: How to Spot Hidden Malware On Your Device

Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)

Cross-site scripting (XSS) is malicious code that gets injected into legitimate websites. Because your browser recognizes the website as a trusted source, it executes the script as it normally would.

This makes your browser susceptible to session hijacking, allowing the attacker to access any unique session ID that’s stored in your browser.

Man-in-the-Middle Attacks

Man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks can happen when an attacker steals information that gets transferred between two networks, such as your device and a public WiFi network or your browser and a web application server.

The interception allows attackers to steal data, financial details and login credentials.

8 Ways to Secure a Web Browser

1. Use a Trusted Web Browser

The simplest way to implement better browser security is by using a browser that’s trusted by its user base and is known for implementing security patches regularly and quickly.

Browsers like Chrome, Firefox, Safari and Edge are common examples. They have the advantage of being backed by larger corporations, giving them access to a larger development team who can detect and predict security issues and implement patches swiftly.

Businesses can use enterprise browsers, such as Chrome Enterprise, Island and Microsoft Edge for Business.

Related: Top Encryption Software Solutions to Safeguard Your Data

2. Install Browser Updates as Soon as Possible

Browser updates, however small, often contain security patches that fix existing security issues while also fortifying the browser’s code for new potential security threats.

It’s recommended that you install browser updates as soon as they’re available whenever you can.

Fortunately, most browsers these days are able to reopen your tabs after they finish installing updates. Plus, updates install in less than a minute these days more often than not.

3. Only Install Trusted Browser Extensions

Any browser extension can become compromised, but some are more susceptible to hacks than others. Plus, some extensions are deliberately malicious.

Follow these tips to decrease your likelihood of installing a malicious browser extension:

• Only install extensions from trusted sources, such as the Chrome Web Store or Firefox’s collection of add-ons
• Only install extensions that have been updated within the last year
• Only install extensions that have a decent review score. Be sure to check recent reviews. Older extensions sometimes have a high review score because of past reviews, not current reviews
• Avoid installing extensions from third-party sources, such as directly from a developer’s website
• Review your extension library at least once a year, though the more you do this, the better. Check that each extension is still being supported by its developer and that recent reviews aren’t citing security issues
• Keep the number of extensions you have installed to a minimum. If you only need an extension every now and then, uninstall it when you finish using it, and install it when you need it again

4. Disable “Hide Known File Types” in Windows

If files on your Windows device only have their names and not their file type extensions, your device is hiding known file types.

For example, if you have a PNG image named “site banner,” and the file only says “site banner” instead of “site banner.png,” your device is hiding known file types.

The reason this is an issue is because some malware can’t operate and hijack session cookies until you execute it on your computer. Hackers trick users into executing malware by disguising it as a legitimate file.

A text file you download might have a name like “readme” as well as the usual icon your device uses for text files, but it might actually be an executable for malware that gets to work on your system as soon as you open the file.

If you choose to show known file types, that file would say “readme.exe” instead, letting you know it’s not a text file.

Follow these steps to disable this setting in Windows:

1. Open the Start menu.
2. Search for “folder options,” and open the File Explorer Options tool that shows up.
3. Open the View tab.
4. Look for the “Hide extensions for known file types” option. Make sure it’s not checked.
5. Click Apply if you had to make changes to this section, then click OK.

5. Only Download Files from Trusted Sources

Similar to installing browser extensions, you should do your best to only download files from trusted sources.

Review any site you want to download a file from. Browse internet forums to see if it’s a trusted source.

Install antivirus on your device that can scan individual files for potential threats.

6. Only Browse Trusted Websites

Some sites are more susceptible to hacks than others. Try to keep your browsing habits as clean as possible to avoid falling victim to attacks, especially on work devices.

Use adblockers to block malicious ads from websites you thought was a trusted source.

7. Use Cookies Responsibly

Cookie popups are the new norm. Ever since the GDPR came into law, almost every website in the world has a little popup asking you to allow or deny the installation of cookies in your browser.

Because some of these cookies collect key data from your device, it’s best that you only accept necessary cookies. These are cookies you need in order to make the website functional.

Also, clear your internet history on a regular basis to delete cookies. This makes hijacked cookies invalid.

8. Recommended Browser Security Settings

• Block third-party cookies
• Block popups
• Disable tracking from your browser’s privacy settings
• Disable saved passwords
• Disable preloading
• Disable site permissions you don’t need, such as access to your camera and microphone
• Enable enhanced protection mode

<p>The post What is Browser Security? first appeared on Digital Technology Solutions.</p>

This process is called IT Asset Disposition (ITAD). Simply put, ITAD is the secure, ethical, and fully documented way to retire your IT hardware. Below are five practical strategies to help you integrate ITAD into your technology lifecycle and protect your business.

1. Develop a Formal ITAD Policy

You can’t protect what you don’t plan for. Start with a straightforward ITAD policy that clearly outlines the steps and responsibilities, no need for pages of technical jargon. At a minimum, it should cover:

• The process for retiring company-owned IT assets.
• Who does what; who initiates, approves, and handles each device.
• Standards for data destruction and final reporting.

A clear policy keeps every ITAD process consistent and accountable through a defined chain of custody. It turns what could be a one-off task into a structured, secure routine, helping your business maintain a strong security posture all the way to the end of the technology lifecycle.

2. Integrate ITAD Into Your Employee Offboarding Process

Many data leaks stem from unreturned company devices. When an employee leaves, it’s critical to recover every piece of issued equipment, laptops, smartphones, tablets, and storage drives included. Embedding ITAD into your offboarding checklist ensures this step is never overlooked. With this process in place, your IT team is automatically notified as soon as an employee resigns or is terminated, allowing you to protect company data before it leaves your organization.

Once a device is collected, it should be securely wiped using approved data sanitization methods before being reassigned or retired. Devices that are still in good condition can be reissued to another employee, while outdated hardware should enter your ITAD process for proper disposal. This disciplined approach eliminates a common security gap and ensures sensitive company data never leaves your control.

3. Maintain a Strict Chain of Custody

Every device follows a journey once it leaves an employee’s hands, but can you trace every step of that journey? To maintain full accountability, implement a clear chain of custody that records exactly who handled each asset and where it was stored at every stage. This eliminates blind spots where devices could be misplaced, tampered with, or lost.

Your chain of custody can be as simple as a paper log or as advanced as a digital asset tracking system. Whichever method you choose, it should at minimum document key details such as dates, asset handlers, status updates, and storage locations. Maintaining this record not only secures your ITAD process but also creates a verifiable audit trail that demonstrates compliance and due diligence.

4. Prioritize Data Sanitization Over Physical Destruction

Many people think physical destruction, like shredding hard drives, is the only foolproof way to destroy data. In reality, that approach is often unnecessary for small businesses and can be damaging to the environment. A better option is data sanitization, which uses specialized software to overwrite storage drives with random data, making the original information completely unrecoverable. This method not only protects your data but also allows devices and components to be safely refurbished and reused.

Reusing and refurbishing your IT assets extends their lifespan and supports the principles of a circular economy, where products and materials stay in use for as long as possible to reduce waste and preserve natural resources. With this approach, you’re not just disposing of equipment securely; you’re also shrinking your environmental footprint and potentially earning extra revenue from refurbished hardware.

5. Partner With a Certified ITAD Provider

Many small businesses don’t have the specialized tools or software required for secure data destruction and sanitization. That’s why partnering with a certified ITAD provider is often the smartest move. When evaluating potential partners, look for verifiable credentials and industry certifications that demonstrate their expertise and commitment to compliance. Some of the common globally accepted certifications to look for in ITAD vendors include e-Stewards and the R2v3 Standard for electronics reuse and recycling, and NAID AAA for data destruction processes. 

These certifications confirm that the vendor adheres to strict environmental, security, and data destruction standards, while taking on full liability for your retired assets. After the ITAD process is complete, the provider should issue a certificate of disposal, whether for recycling, destruction, or reuse, which you can keep on file to demonstrate compliance during audits.

Turn Old Tech into a Security Advantage

Your retired IT assets aren’t just clutter; they’re a hidden liability until you manage their disposal properly. A structured IT Asset Disposition program turns that risk into proof of your company’s integrity and commitment to data security, sustainability, and compliance. Take the first step toward secure, responsible IT asset management, contact us today.

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Why Should I Care About Cloud Resources?

The business benefit is tangible and dramatic. While organizations struggle with cloud budgets exceeding limits by an estimated 17%, automation offers a clear path to control. 

For example, a VLink saved a significant amount of money on its non-production cloud spend by implementing a rigorous cloud shutdown automation policy. This policy automatically powered down all development and test environments that were not explicitly tagged as ‘Production’ outside of normal business hours (8 AM to 6 PM). The savings from just this single automated action accounted for 40% off their non-production cloud spend, freeing up that budget for new growth initiatives.

3 Power Automate Workflows

Finding these unused cloud resources feels like hunting for ghosts. But what if you could automate the hunt? Microsoft Power Automate is a powerful tool for this exact task. Let’s look at three straightforward workflows to identify and terminate waste automatically.

1. Automate the Shutdown of Development VMs

Development and test environments are the worst offenders for cloud waste. A team needs a virtual machine for a short-term project. The project ends, but the VM continues to run, costing money. You can build a workflow that stops this waste. Create a Power Automate flow that triggers daily and queries Azure for all virtual machines with a specific tag, like “Environment: Dev.”

The flow then checks the machine’s performance metrics. If the CPU utilization has been below 5% for the last 72 hours, it executes a command to shut down the VM. This simple Azure automation does not delete anything, it simply turns off the power, slashing costs immediately. Your developers can still start it if needed, but you are no longer paying for idle time.

2. Identify and Report Orphaned Storage Disks

When you delete an Azure virtual machine, you are often given an option to delete its associated storage disk. This step is frequently missed, and the orphaned disks continue to incur storage charges month after month. You can create a flow to find them. 

Build a Power Automate schedule that runs weekly. The flow will list all unattached managed disks in your subscription and will then compose a detailed email report that lists the disk names, their sizes, and the estimated monthly cost. The report acts as a clear, actionable list that could be used for cleanup purposes, and you can send it using the “Send an email” action to your IT manager or finance team for further evaluation on whether to keep or delete the disks.

3. Terminate Expired Temporary Resources

Some business projects require temporary cloud resources, like a blob storage container for a file transfer or a temporary database for data analysis. Since these resources have a finite lifespan, you need to directly integrate build expiration dates into your deployment process. For this, you can use a Power Automate flow that is triggered by a custom date field. This means that whenever you create a temporary resource, you add a descriptive tag such as “Deletion Date.” 

After implementing this best practice, i.e., adding descriptive tags to cloud resources, set the flow to run daily and check for all resources that bear the “Deletion Date” tag. For each resource the flow finds, it should check whether the current date matches or is later than the “Deletion Date” property. If this condition is met, the flow deletes the resource automatically. This hands-off cleanup ensures that temporary items do not become permanent expenses. This approach not only eliminates the risk of human oversight but also uses automation to enforce financial discipline.

Troubleshoot Your Automated Workflows

Using Power Automate to build these workflows is a great start, but you also need to implement them safely. Automations that delete resources are powerful and need controls in place. To be safe, always launch these flows in report-only mode, which lets you test and simulate automations without enforcing them. For example, you can modify the “Terminate Expired Temporary Resources” flow to send an email alert instead of deleting resources for the first couple of weeks as you observe. This helps validate whether your flow logic is sound and gives you an opportunity to fix errors and oversights.

You can also consider adding a manual approval requirement for certain high-risk actions, such as the deletion of very large storage disks. This ensures that your automations work to your benefit and not against you. 

Take Control of Your Cloud Spend

These three Power Automate workflows are a good starting point for businesses using Microsoft Azure. They help you shift from a reactive to a proactive position, ensuring you only pay for the resources you actively use.

Stop overspending on idle cloud resources. To take control of your cloud environment and start saving, contact us today to implement these Power Automate workflows and optimize your Azure spend.

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This guide will help you understand what’s new in privacy regulations and give you a way to navigate compliance without getting lost in legal terms. 

Why Your Website Needs Privacy Compliance

If your website collects any kind of personal data, such as newsletter sign-ups, contact forms, or cookies, privacy compliance is necessary. It’s a legal obligation that’s becoming stricter each year.

Governments and regulators have become much more aggressive. Since the GDPR took effect, reported fines have exceeded €5.88 billion (USD$6.5 billion) across Europe, according to DLA Piper. Meanwhile, U.S. states like California, Colorado, and Virginia have introduced their own privacy laws that are just as tough.

Compliance isn’t just about avoiding penalties; it’s about building trust. Today’s users expect transparency and control over their information. If they sense opacity in how their data is used, they may leave or raise concerns. A clear and honest privacy policy fosters trust and helps your business stand out, especially in the digital age, where misuse of data can damage a reputation within hours.

Privacy Compliance Checklist 2025: Top Things to Have

Meeting privacy requirements isn’t just about compliance; it’s about giving your users confidence that their information is safe with you. Here’s what your 2025 privacy framework should include:

1. Transparent Data Collection: Be clear about what personal data you collect, why you collect it, and how you use it. Avoid vague generalities such as “we might use your information to enhance services.” Be specific and truthful.
2. Effective Consent Management: Consent must be active, recorded, and reversible. Users should be able to opt in or out at will, and you should have records that show when consent was given. You need to refresh user consent whenever you change how their data is used.
3. Full Third-Party Disclosures: Be honest about what third parties process user data, from email automation tools to payment systems, and how you evaluate their privacy policies. 
4. Privacy Rights and User Controls: Clearly outline users’ rights, such as access, correction, deletion, data portability, and the ability to object to processing, and make it simple for them to exercise these rights without endless email back-and-forth.
5. Strong Security Controls: Apply encryption, multi-factor authentication (MFA), endpoint monitoring, and regular security audits. 
6. Cookie Management and Tracking: Cookie popups are changing and give users more control over non-essential cookies. Don’t rely on default “opt-in” methods or confusing jargon. Clearly disclose tracking tools and refresh them on a regular basis.
7. Global Compliance Assurance: If you serve international customers, ensure compliance with GDPR, CCPA/CPRA, and other regional privacy laws. Keep in mind each region has its own updates, such as enhanced data portability rights, shorter breach notification timelines, and expanded definitions of “personal data.”
8. Aged Data Retention Practices: Avoid keeping data indefinitely “just in case.” Document how long you retain it and outline how it will be securely deleted or anonymized. Regulators now expect clear evidence of these deletion plans.
9. Open Contact and Governance Details: Your privacy policy should have the name of a Data Protection Officer (DPO) or privacy contact point. 
10. Date of Policy Update: Add a “last updated” date to your privacy policy to notify users and regulators that it is actively maintained and up-to-date.
11. Safeguards for Children’s Data: If you are collecting data from children, have more stringent consent processes. Some laws now require verifiable parental consent for users under a specified age. Review your forms and cookie use for compliance.
12. Automated Decision-Making and Use of AI: Disclose the use of profiling software and AI platforms. When algorithms influence pricing, risk assessments, or recommendations, users should understand how they operate and have the right to request a human review.

What’s New in Data Laws in 2025

In 2025, privacy regulations are expanding, with stricter interpretations and stronger enforcement. Here are six key privacy developments to watch and prepare for:

International Data Transfers

Cross-border data flow is under scrutiny again. The EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework faces new legal challenges, and several watchdog groups are testing its validity in court. Moreover, businesses that depend on international transfers need to review Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) and ensure their third-party tools meet adequacy standards.

Consent and Transparency

Consent is evolving from a simple ‘tick box’ to a dynamic, context-aware process. Regulators now expect users to be able to easily modify or withdraw consent, and your business must maintain clear records of these actions. In short, your consent process should prioritize the user experience, not just regulatory compliance.

Automated Decision-Making

If you use AI to personalize services, generate recommendations, or screen candidates, you’ll need to explain how those systems decide. New frameworks in many countries now require “meaningful human oversight.” The days of hidden algorithms are coming to an end.

Expanded User Rights

Expect broader rights for individuals, such as data portability across platforms and the right to limit certain types of processing. These protections are no longer limited to Europe, several U.S. states and regions in Asia are adopting similar rules.

Data Breach Notification

Timelines for breach reporting are shrinking. Certain jurisdictions now require organizations to report breaches to authorities within 24 to 72 hours of discovery. Missing these deadlines can lead to higher fines and damage your reputation.

Children’s Data and Cookies

Stricter controls around children’s privacy are being adopted globally. Regulators are cracking down on tracking cookies and targeted ads aimed at minors. If you have international users, your cookie banner may need more customization than ever.

Do You Need Help Complying with New Data Laws? 

In 2025, privacy compliance can no longer be treated as a one-time task or a simple checkbox. It’s an ongoing commitment that touches every client, system, and piece of data you manage. Beyond avoiding fines, these new laws help you build trust, demonstrating that your business values privacy, transparency, and accountability.

If this feels overwhelming, you don’t have to face it alone. With the right guidance, you can stay on top of privacy, security, and compliance requirements using practical tools, expert advice, and proven best practices. Our step-by-step support from experienced professionals who understand the challenges businesses face will give you the clarity and confidence to turn privacy compliance into a strategic advantage in 2025. Contact us today.

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<p>The post Your 2025 Privacy Compliance Checklist and What You Need to Know About the New Data Laws first appeared on Digital Technology Solutions.</p>

So, how do you make your website and documents digitally accessible? This guide will show you simple, actionable steps to make your website and documents welcoming to everyone. 

Understand How People Use Your Site

It’s easy to think your website is intuitive just because it works for you. But that doesn’t mean it works for everyone. Some people use a keyboard instead of a mouse. Others rely on screen readers that read text aloud or use voice commands to navigate a page. Testing how real users with disabilities interact with your website can show you things you might never notice.

The most valuable insights come from real users. Invite feedback from people who use assistive technologies. Watch how they navigate your site, where they get stuck, and how they interpret your content. You’ll often find that small design or content changes can remove significant barriers.

Make Your Visuals Accessible for All

Visual accessibility is one of the most common areas that websites overlook. Millions of people have some degree of visual impairment and rely on different aids to access digital content.

Text should clearly stand out against its background, even for people with low vision or color blindness. A contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 for normal text is considered accessible. Use free tools like the Contrast Checker from WebAIM to make verification easy.

Make Documents User-Friendly

Many businesses share important information through downloadable documents like PDFs, Word files, or PowerPoint presentations. Unfortunately, many of these documents are inaccessible by default.

When creating a PDF, make sure that it is tagged. Tagged PDFs have structural information such as headings, paragraphs, and tables, which makes the PDF more readable for screen readers. Make sure to include alt text for images and organize content so it reads correctly for users relying on assistive technology. A simple test for accessibility before sending or uploading the document can make sure that it can be read by everyone.

Make Reading Easier and Reduce Mental Effort

Some users may learn in a different way or have cognitive disabilities that affect how they read and interpret information. But even those without diagnosed disabilities enjoy plain and uncluttered content.

Use plain language. Avoid using complex, long sentences or jargon where a straightforward explanation will do. Break your writing up into short paragraphs with explanatory subheadings. This is easier for everyone to read and find what they require in a short amount of time.

The fonts you choose also matter. Fonts like Arial, Verdana, Sans-Serif, are easier to read on the screen. Choose a font size of at least 14 points for body text and never use all caps or italics because they are harder to read.

Support People with Hearing or Mobility Needs

Accessibility goes beyond visual or cognitive needs, millions of people have hearing or physical disabilities that affect how they use technology.

Provide captions or transcripts for all video and audio content to support deaf or hard-of-hearing visitors. Consistently adding these is important, as many viewers watch videos on mute, especially at work or in public. Transcripts also help search engines index your content, giving your site a slight SEO boost.

For users with limited mobility, ensure that your website is completely accessible with only a keyboard. All links, buttons, and form fields should be accessible using the Tab key. Avoid features requiring fine motor control, including small click-tooltips or drag-and-drop interfaces.

Keep Improving Through Feedback and Data

Accessibility isn’t a one-time project, it’s an ongoing process. Each time you update your site or add new content, test to ensure everything remains accessible. Encourage visitors to provide feedback if they encounter issues, and consider including an accessibility statement on your site to show your commitment and provide contact information for support

Accessibility gap insights can also be provided by analytics tools. When you notice users abandoning pages or forms, it is usually an indication of an accessibility or usability issue.

Make Accessibility Part of Your Brand

For SMBs, accessibility can seem like just another item on an already long to-do list. But it’s a smart investment in your reputation and customer relationships. When your website and documents are accessible, you’re showing your audience that your business is thoughtful, inclusive, and professional. You’re also protecting yourself from potential legal risks, as accessibility standards like the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) apply to many websites.

The good news is that beauty and accessibility can go hand in hand. You can have a modern, visually striking website that’s also accessible, by thoughtfully choosing colors, design elements, and language that welcome everyone.

Ready to Make Your Website More Accessible?

Accessibility is not a technical requirement. It’s about people. It’s about ensuring everyone, no matter what their ability, can read your content, fill out your forms, or download your documents. For business owners, that’s the essence of good service: meeting customers where they are and including everyone.

By investing the time to make your documents and site accessible, you’re opening doors and removing barriers. Whether you’re doing your color contrast check, adding alt text to images, naming PDFs, or performing keyboard navigation testing, each step brings you closer to a more inclusive online experience.

Ready to make your website accessible, user-friendly, and welcoming to all visitors? Let us help you transform your site into a powerful asset for your business. Contact us today to get expert guidance and start creating an accessible, modern website that works for everyone.

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The cloud is vulnerable to hacks, hardware failure, natural disaster, human error and even sabotage.

In this post, I discuss the pros and cons of the cloud, why you should keep using it even if it isn’t always secure, and how to use it safely.

Is the Cloud Secure?

Yes, the cloud is generally very secure, even more secure than traditional storage solutions due to security protocols like encryption and multi-factor authentication.

But it isn’t completely secure. No storage solution is.

Image Credit: Brett Sayles on Pexels

To understand how cloud security works, you need to understand how the cloud works in general and how it differs from traditional storage solutions.

“The cloud” is a name given to a server system that’s powered by a large collection of servers. A single system might have hundreds or even thousands of storage drives.

The system is designed to work as one collective server (“the cloud”) that can draw on resources from any individual server in the system as necessary.

To put it simply, when you store something in the cloud, you’re still storing it on a physical storage drive. The difference is that drive is part of a large collection of storage servers that are housed in what’s called a “data center.”

Screenshot Source: Switch

How Do Cloud Providers Secure Cloud Servers?

You might be wondering how cloud storage is more secure than traditional storage even though it’s always connected to a network.

It comes down to the multiple layers of security cloud providers use in order to keep hackers and bad actors from accessing your data.

Here are some of the security methods cloud providers use to secure cloud servers:

• Encryption
• Network firewall
• Virtual private network (VPN)
• Identity and access management (IAM)
• Backups

Some of these methods must be configured by customers themselves. In fact, Amazon Web Services (AWS) operates on a “shared responsibility” security agreement in which Amazon agrees to secure the cloud infrastructure a customer’s data is stored in and the customer agrees to configure all of the security options AWS offers in order to secure their data.

To be more specific, most cloud providers offer data encryption that protects data when it’s at rest or in transit.

Screenshot Source: Cryptii

AWS allows you to encrypt your data while it’s stored in S3 Buckets or database tables and keeps that data encrypted when you move it to a new location in your network.

Data encryption is an important security layer because it protects your data even when hackers gain access to your network.

Encryption works by converting data from plaintext into ciphertext so it can’t be read. This works for video and audio files as well.

You encrypt files with keys, which are codes that must be entered in order to access encrypted files. AWS offers this feature through their Key Management System (KMS).

Network Firewalls and Other Security Methods

Like I said, encryption is an important security method because it protects data even when it’s accessed. But what other security methods do cloud providers offer?

One of them is a network firewall. AWS’ firewall allows you to control access through granular rules, block threats automatically based on rules created and managed by Amazon Threat Intelligence, and enable geo-based IP filtering.

VPNs allow you to establish encrypted connections when you and your employees access cloud resources from remote offices.

Identity and access management (IAM) is also very important.

IAM allows you to control who has access to what on a cloud network by forcing users to log in with a two-factor authentication (2FA, also known as “multi-factor authentication” (MFA)) method and assigning user roles to each account.

For instance, with AWS’ IAM roles feature, you can control which features and network locations your users have access to. This allows you to give enough permission to a user that lets them access files but enough restriction that prevents them making drastic changes or behaving unethically.

Finally, cloud providers create and store numerous copies of your data in the cloud in case anything happens to the original versions of your files.

List of Secure Cloud Providers

Screenshot Source: AWS

These are popular cloud providers that offer a lot, if not all, of the features I mentioned above:

• AWS
• Microsoft Azure
• Google Cloud Platform

Use one of these solutions if all you need is cloud storage:

• Google Drive
• Microsoft OneDrive
• Dropbox
• iCloud

Related: Microsoft Azure vs AWS: How to Choose the Right Cloud Platform

How Can You Keep Your Data Safe in the Cloud?

There are a number of things you can do yourself to keep your data safe in the cloud, some of which I’ve already mentioned:

• Choose a cloud provider carefully
• Keep the email account associated with the account you use to access your cloud servers secure. Use a computer-generated password and MFA
• Use a secure password for accounts you use to access cloud networks
• Use MFA for accounts you use to access cloud networks
• Enable encryption
• Configure access controls properly
• Enable a firewall for your network
• Use VPNs when accessing your cloud network from remote locations
• Check on cloud backups regularly to ensure they’re working properly
• Teach employees how to access the cloud securely
• Decide if certain files are too sensitive to store in the cloud
• Monitor logs for suspicious activity
• Remove user accounts and permissions for employees who no longer work with you
• Use dedicated work devices, and never use them for personal use
• Develop an incident response plan
• Perform security audits on a routine basis

Performing each of these actions will keep your data safer.

Related: The Ultimate Guide to Safe Cloud Storage

Alternatives to Cloud Storage

These are common alternatives to cloud storage:

• Local storage – For files stored on the device you need to access them on, such as a computer
• External hard drives – Physical storage devices you transfer files to. Also includes flash drives, CD-ROMs and floppy disks
• NAS – Stands for network attached storage. It’s a storage system you keep on the premises. Every device on your local network can access it
• Dedicated server – Still internet accessible, but instead of being connected to a cloud infrastructure, your data is kept on a singular server

Screenshot Source: Synology

There are advantages and disadvantages to each of these solutions. As far as security goes, many of them are prone to the same security threats the cloud is prone to, including hacks and malware infections.

External hard drives aren’t constantly connected to the internet, but they are at risk of falling victim to sabotage and physical theft.

It’s highly recommended that you use multiple storage solutions, including the cloud.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the cloud be hacked?

Yes. Every computer system that’s connected to the internet can be hacked. This includes cloud systems.

It’s not easy due to the layers of security cloud providers use, but there’s always a possibility of a hacker finding a vulnerability and exploiting it.

This is especially possible if your cloud provider doesn’t have a good reputation for security as user error is at the heart of many data breaches.

What is the biggest risk with the cloud?

The biggest risk with storing data in the cloud is misconfiguring IAM settings.

Identity and access management (IAM) is a collection of settings most cloud providers offer that allows you to control how users log into their accounts as well as which users have access to what in your network.

Many data breaches and network outages are the result of user error.

By forcing users to log in with multi-factor authentication and ensuring the majority of your employees cannot access key settings in your network, you mitigate a lot of the risks that come with using the cloud.

Is my data safe in the cloud?

Yes, your data is very safe in the cloud. In fact, cloud storage is a lot more secure than traditional storage solutions due to features like data encryption and multi-factor authentication.

However, it’s important to remember that your data isn’t unattainable in the cloud and that the majority of cloud security is dependent on how well you secure your account and configure your network.

Can anyone access my data?

No. As long as your data is encrypted, only individuals who have an encryption key for that data can access it.

This includes AWS, but AWS’ data privacy policy states, “We do not access or use your content for any purpose without your agreement. We do not use your content or derive information from it for marketing or advertising purposes.”

Apple’s iCloud data security policy states, “End-to-end encrypted data can be decrypted only on your trusted devices where you’re signed in to your Apple Account. No one else can access your end-to-end encrypted data — not even Apple — and this data remains secure even in the case of a data breach in the cloud. If you lose access to your account, only you can recover this data, using your device passcode or password, recovery contact, or recovery key.”

Microsoft Azure’s data privacy policy says its agreement extends to authorized contractors they hire, stating, “We process your data only with your agreement, and when we have your agreement, we use your data to provide only the services you have chosen. These agreements apply equally to subcontractors (or, subprocessors) that Microsoft authorizes and hires to perform work that may require access to your data: they can perform only the functions that Microsoft has hired them to provide, and they are bound by the same contractual privacy commitments that Microsoft makes to you.”

What should you not store in the cloud?

1. Passwords and PINs
2. Personal details
3. Financial information
4. Legal documents
5. Medical records
6. Private files
7. Intellectual property

Files that contain sensitive or private information or imagery should never be stored in the cloud. This includes documents that contain your social security number and payment information as well as intimate files.

Files that contain intellectual property should also not be stored in the cloud, especially if that property is stored in its entirety.

<p>The post Is the Cloud Secure? first appeared on Digital Technology Solutions.</p>