In the midst of an accelerated digital landscape and increasingly demanding consumers, companies have been investing in an alternative to optimize their operations: the cloud! As a result, data protection in a virtual environment has become one of the biggest concerns for these businesses.

To give you an idea, according to the “The State of Cloud-Native Security Report 2024” conducted by Palo Alto Networks, 61% of the Brazilian companies surveyed invested around BRL 52 million in cloud solutions in 2023, indicating that cloud computing is no longer a disruptive technology but has established itself as a necessary measure in the corporate environment.

Furthermore, Gartner, a global leader in research and advisory services for organizations, estimates that global spending on public cloud services will exceed the $1 trillion mark by 2027, and that more than 50% of companies will be using cloud platforms by 2028.

The cloud expansion scenario demonstrates companies’ predisposition to implement technologies within their production chains, also highlighting the urgent demand for effective cybersecurity planning.

To ensure that internal organizational information and data, as well as those of their clients and partners, remain intact, companies must structure adequate cloud data protection strategies aligned with global standards and regulatory frameworks, such as the LGPD in Brazil or GDPR in the European Union.

In this content, we’ll share some tips to help you build a strong foundation for your project in this field. Enjoy the read!

What does data protection mean in the corporate environment?

Data protection in the corporate context goes beyond a simple technical necessity: it’s a strategic issue that directly impacts business continuity, customer trust, and compliance with legal regulations.

In practice, with the growing digitization of operations and the acceleration of digital transformation, this topic becomes even more essential, as companies are increasingly exposed to risks related to information security.

The Importance of Information Security

In a world where cyber threats are becoming more sophisticated every day, information security is essential to protect sensitive data, such as customers' personal information, financial records, and a company’s intellectual property. A data breach or theft can cause irreparable damage to an organization’s reputation and undermine the trust of partners and consumers.

Companies that do not invest adequately in security risk losing valuable data, harming not only their operations but also their relationships with stakeholders.

In this context, information security is more than just a legal or technical obligation; it is vital for the company’s performance and growth in the digital environment.

Compliance with Regulatory Standards

The protection of corporate data in the cloud is also closely tied to compliance with national and international regulatory standards, such as the General Data Protection Law (LGPD) in Brazil and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the European Union.

These regulations establish specific requirements for how companies must handle, store, and protect personal data, imposing severe penalties for non-compliance.

Aligning with data protection standards directly impacts the mitigation of fines and demonstrates the company’s commitment to privacy and the security of its clients’ and partners’ data. Organizations dedicated to transparency and best practices in data protection gain credibility in the market and earn the trust of their customers.

Risks of an Unprotected Infrastructure: Financial and Reputational Damage

The main risk of an unprotected infrastructure lies in exposure to cyberattacks such as ransomware, phishing, and hacking, which can compromise confidential data. As we know, the impact of a security breach is not limited to information loss; the consequences can be far more severe.

Financially, for example, companies may face high costs related to regulatory fines, damage remediation, and even lawsuits for negligence in data protection.

Additionally, there is the risk of losing long-term projects, contracts, and suspension of operations, which directly affects business continuity.

From a reputational standpoint, a data breach can permanently damage a company’s image. Losing customer trust can also be challenging to recover, especially in sectors where privacy and security are top priorities, such as financial services and healthcare.

Therefore, an unprotected IT infrastructure not only exposes the company to legal and financial risks but also jeopardizes its position in the market. Protecting data efficiently is a strategic investment that ensures the organization’s future.

See how to do this below.

Cloud Data Protection: Tips and Best Practices for Companies

As mentioned earlier, with the exponential growth of cloud computing and the digital transformation dominating the market, cloud data protection has become a critical point for companies.

For this reason, the security of corporate and customer information cannot be treated superficially, as failures in this process can result in significant financial losses, reputational damage, and even regulatory sanctions.

To help your company adopt robust data protection practices, we’ve listed some of the best strategies to implement when it comes to “cloud data protection.”

1) Data Encryption: The First Line of Defense

Data encryption is one of the most effective strategies for protecting sensitive information. When data is encrypted, even if an intruder manages to access it, it will be practically useless without the decryption key.

For data stored in the cloud, it is essential to ensure that it is encrypted both in transit (while being transferred over the internet) and at rest (while stored on servers). This approach provides protection against external attacks while also ensuring compliance with privacy regulations such as LGPD and GDPR.

2) Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Extra Security for Cloud Access

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) is a strategic tip for cloud data protection because it ensures that only authorized users have access to sensitive corporate data.

MFA requires users to provide a second form of verification, such as a code sent via SMS or generated by an authenticator app, in addition to their password.

This additional layer of security drastically reduces the chances of unauthorized access, even if the user’s password is compromised. Implementing MFA is a simple step that significantly strengthens cloud data protection.

3) Data Backup and Recovery: Protect Yourself Against Losses

Implementing backup strategies and effective data recovery plans is crucial to mitigating the risk of losing essential information. This goes beyond simply creating backups; it requires storing those copies in secure locations, ideally in different geographical regions, to protect against server failures or natural disasters.

Data recovery should be planned to minimize company downtime.

To achieve this, regular testing of backup tools and recovery simulations should be performed to ensure that, in the event of an incident, the company can restore its data quickly and efficiently.

4) Continuous Monitoring and Security Audits

Maintaining continuous monitoring of all activities within cloud systems is essential for detecting suspicious behavior, unauthorized access, or security process failures.

In this regard, intrusion detection tools and regular audits can be implemented to continuously assess the health of the security infrastructure.

This monitoring should be performed in real-time, with automated alerts for any detected anomalies, allowing for a quick and effective response to incidents.

5) Access Management: Strict Control Over Who Can Access What

Access management (Identity and Access Management – IAM) is a practice that allows for strict administration of data access privileges. By adopting a principle of least privilege, companies ensure that users only have access to the data they truly need to perform their tasks.

Additionally, it is important to periodically review granted access to ensure that users who no longer require certain privileges are immediately removed from the system, minimizing the risk of unauthorized access.

6) Team Training and Awareness

Cloud security doesn't rely solely on technological tools. Regular training for employees on cloud security best practices, data protection, and how to identify potential threats like phishing and other cyberattacks is essential to strengthening cloud data protection.

Employees should be equipped to recognize suspicious behavior, understand the risks involved in handling sensitive data, and follow internal security policies.

Conclusion

Investing in cloud data protection is a crucial step to ensure the continuity and security of your company's operations, especially with the growing volume of data being generated and stored.

Adopting practices such as data encryption, multi-factor authentication, data backup and recovery, along with strict access management, are fundamental measures to mitigate risks and ensure that your company’s, clients’, and partners’ information remains intact.

The digital future is promising, and the cloud plays a key role in this scenario. Therefore, a robust and well-planned security infrastructure is one of the strategic pillars of business.

Don’t let a lack of protection jeopardize your success. Invest now in cloud security solutions to strengthen your customers' trust and ensure compliance with regulatory standards.

How does Prime DB optimize your company’s cloud data protection?

In addition to offering technology, Prime DB is committed to providing peace of mind for its clients, allowing companies to focus on what truly matters: operational scalability.

As a partner of Oracle, one of the global leaders in database solutions and cloud infrastructure, Prime DB combines the expertise of an industry giant with a personalized approach tailored to your business model.

Through Prime DB solutions, you gain access to various benefits, such as:

• Robust and scalable infrastructure
• Advanced security technologies
• Guaranteed compliance
• Specialized technical support

In practice, Prime DB also ensures the security of your organization’s data, enabling you to secure business growth.

Would you like to learn more about our cloud solutions? Get in touch with our team!