Acronis Cyber Protection Week: Cloud and hybrid cloud data protection

In recognition of Acronis Cyber Protection Week 2023

Hybrid clouds are the next big thing in cloud computing, with 90% of organizations predicted to adopt them in 2023. Hybrid cloud architecture combines public and private clouds. Some computing resources are internally managed, and others are provided by third-party providers.

The hybrid cloud architecture allows for greater flexibility and control over computing resources. It enables you to keep sensitive data in your clients’ private cloud while leveraging the scalability and cost-effectiveness of the public cloud. 

But you need sophisticated solutions like firewalls, intrusion detection and prevention systems, data encryption, and anti-malware solutions to protect your clients’ data in hybrid clouds. You must also not disregard compliance with relevant data protection regulations like the GDPR and HIPAA.

Cloud and hybrid cloud security refers to the set of policies, technologies, and controls deployed to protect cloud resources, applications, and data from unauthorized access, data breaches, and other security threats. For MSPs, this means greater control over data safety, accessibility, privacy, authenticity, and security — both for their IT infrastructure and for their clients' resources.

Cyber protection has five pillars — prevention, detection, response, recovery, and forensics. Therefore, effective hybrid cloud cyber protection employs advanced technology to prevent and intercept attempted attacks, and provide backup and recovery channels in the event of an attack. Some of the cardinals of cloud data protection are:

Identity and access management (IAM): IAM is a set of processes and technologies that manage user authentication and access to cloud resources. It involves creating and managing user accounts, roles, and permissions to ensure that only authorized users have access to sensitive data and applications.

Network security: involves securing the cloud network against unauthorized access, data breaches, and other cyber threats. This is achieved through the use of firewalls, intrusion detection and prevention systems, and other security technologies.

Data encryption: involves converting sensitive data into an unreadable format to protect it from unauthorized access. This is done using encryption algorithms and keys that ensure that data can only be accessed by authorized users with the appropriate decryption key.

Some of the key benefits hybrid cloud data protection can offer are:

1. Hybrid cloud security services enable you to upsize and downsize computing resources without compromising data security. This enables you to respond to changing business requirements.

1. Hybrid cloud data protection services are more cost effective than traditional on-premises data protection solutions. They eliminate the need for expensive hardware and software, and operate a pay-as-you-go pricing model.

1. Hybrid cloud data protection services can help ensure business continuity in the event of a disaster or outage. Data is stored across multiple locations, which reduces the risk of data loss.

1. They allow you the flexibility to leverage the benefits of both private and public cloud environments, and customize solutions to meet your clients’ unique requirements.

The hybrid cloud is complex, and the complexity can obscure responsibilities in security and incident coverage. Multiplicity of cloud could also complicate visibility across the entire infrastructure, especially if there is no centralized dashboard to monitor, protect and optimize the hybrid cloud. Follow these best practices when choosing a cyber protection tool for your clients’ hybrid cloud environments:

A solution that offers end-to-end visibility into the cloud ecosystem is vital. You should be able to automate and control the depth of visibility you need.

Whether in motion or at rest, encryption secures data in the environment. Use a solution with encryption protocols that run consistently across every element of the hybrid environment.

Cyber protection unifies backup, cybersecurity and endpoint management. Hence, effective cloud cyber protection must do more than secure the infrastructures, but should strongly backup the data using relevant disaster recovery techniques.

Agile cyber protection incorporates AI-based static and behavioral heuristic detection technologies.  

MSPs must learn to combine both cybersecurity with cyber resilience for effective and comprehensive cloud cyber protection.

Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud is a hybrid cloud data security and protection tool that satisfies current cyber protection trends. With it, you can deliver cyber protection in an easy, efficient and secure way, access cloud backup, cloud disaster recovery, ransomware protection, file sync and share, and blockchain-based file notarization and e-signature services, all from a single console. Try it now!