• Categorizing your data helps you to identify your risks. Your sensitive data is what you need to protect. The loss or theft of sensitive data can result in regulatory penalties, loss of intellectual property and financial losses.
• Monitor who has access to your sensitive data and how they use it. What permissions do you have on files and folders in the cloud? Assess user roles, device types, and user locations.
• Are there cloud services employees could be using that you are unaware of? Use your firewall or web proxy to find out and run assessments of the risk profiles.
• Audit configurations for infrastructure-as-a-service (IAAS). Using the wrong configurations can create vulnerabilities. Configuration, encryption, and identity and access management are all important.
• Both employees and cybercriminals can maliciously use cloud data. It’s important to monitor such behavior to mitigate internal and external data loss.

It is easy for malware to compromise a shared folder. If it syncs automatically with cloud storage, the malware can replicate in the cloud without any user action. Scanning files in cloud storage with anti-malware can help you to avoid cyber attacks.

There are times when you may need to uninstall outdated apps and software, as it's one of the main ways to be safe from malware and viruses. You should always look for the best antivirus apps to safeguard your computer. In addition to that, you can remove apps and programs that are no longer needed or are outdated manually or by using trusted third-party tools. You can also use an app’s native uninstaller. Manual methods will delete the app but don’t delete all associated files and folders. These can take up space and cause system errors. A dedicated third-party uninstaller tool can locate all the hidden files and folders.

1. Fully understand user agreements: In user agreements, you will find out how the service protects your information. You may inadvertently give the service the right to use or sell your information if you don’t read the user agreement properly.
2. Encrypt sensitive data: Cloud services offer encryption to protect your data, but they still have access to your keys. Encrypt data using your own keys, and you have total control.
3. Set up privacy settings: You must configure your privacy settings as soon as you sign up. You don’t want to share private information via the apps you connect to the service provider. Find out how long the service stores your data and which information it can pull from your apps or devices. You will need to keep on checking and reconfiguring your privacy settings every few weeks.
4. Control user access: Controlling user access via cloud security guidelines and policies is necessary. The recommendation is to start with zero trust. Only grant users access to the systems and data they need.
5. Secure user endpoints: Cloud services provide access from anywhere and to anyone with any device and an internet connection. Endpoints are access points to cloud services, and access from unmanaged devices can be a blind spot when it comes to security. It’s important to secure endpoint devices such as mobile phones and laptops.