Tips & Tricks

What are some best practices to include in the cloud usage policy

What is Cloud Usage Policy?

A cloud usage policy is a set of guidelines that dictate how an organization’s employees can use cloud computing services.

The policy may address data security, service level agreements, and acceptable use of resources.

There has been a rise in the need for a robust cloud use strategy since many firms are moving their apps, services, and infrastructure to the cloud. Overnight decision-makers who insist on moving services to the cloud as soon as possible have been seen. These initiatives run the risk of failure due to insufficient time for good preparation.

It’s been observed that some businesses suffer when moving services to the cloud, while others do it without incident. If the transfer goes well, users will still need to be trained to utilise the cloud effectively.

In this post, we’ll go through some of the best ways to set up a cloud use policy.

1. Users must be considered the Review Process

Don’t treat your cloud project as a black box. Include as many real consumers as possible in the evaluation process. Teach them how to utilize the cloud to better their job. Please have them in meetings and seek input. I’m sure many of them already utilize the cloud. Discover why and how they use it.

But you can’t assume everyone shares your love for the cloud. Finance personnel may be concerned about security. Think they’ve heard the horror tales, and explain how you protect their data.

Never assume your users share your worries. The cloud may be familiar to you, yet it still scares many. Address their issues. Asking them to utilize new goods and services they used to manage locally will pay off. Not everyone can include users in the review process. It entails prioritizing education. This will assist staff in understanding their responsibilities and reducing the risk of cloud resource abuse. Users will be more inclined to obey rules and regulations if they feel involved in the process.

2. Keep the Usage Policy Up-to-Date

This may sound obvious, yet many IT managers skip this step. Worst case scenario: an old policy full of jargon and outmoded items. If your organization utilizes a messaging software like Slack, mention it instead of an outdated product no one uses. Cloud storage and other services are the same. Giving people an outdated policy is the easiest way to lose users. This distorts the message you’re attempting to convey.

cloud-computing

3. Prioritise Cloud Security

Ask those who haven’t adopted the cloud what’s holding them back. I’m sure most users don’t trust the cloud. Specifically, they lack faith in cloud data. Cloud computing security is always a worry. Keeping data outside your company’s firewall will always be risky. You should still use the cloud, but be aware that most people are concerned about security.

One suggestion is to explain to consumers why your firm uses particular programmes. Your staff may have used Dropbox for years. Your new request is that they store or distribute their files elsewhere. Educating users on the security consequences of their choices might help them make informed choices.

Routing around security issues becomes second nature to users. The idea reminds me of a corporation that mandated monthly password changes for all workers. Sticky notes and whiteboards have only increased in quantity as a result of this. Users tend to focus only on how security impacts them personally when making security decisions. They may rethink their attitude once they see how their behaviours impact their coworkers. Early training is crucial for gaining buy-in to new policies, as is the case with most of them.

4. Proper Network Usage

A strong network is required for your cloud computing platform. Additionally, due to inappropriate use, it does not take much to bring a business network to a grinding halt. First, it is never prudent to presume that users understand what good network use entails. You’re going to have to define it for them. For instance, the majority of workers realize that operating bots or mining Bitcoins might cause the network to slow down. However, what about uploading videos to YouTube or streaming Netflix and Spotify during their lunch break?

5. Do Research on Cloud Providers

Do your homework to locate the finest cloud apps and providers for your company’s specific information security policy needs. By investigating the cloud app ecosystem, you learn about the providers and the approved and unapproved apps that they support. You should do your research into the provider’s application security policy for sensitive data, the extent of their administrative access, and their plan for deleting data in the event of a disaster before signing any contracts.

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Raj Maurya

Raj Maurya is the founder of Digital Gyan. He is a technical content writer on Fiverr and freelancer.com. He loves writing. When not working he plays Valorant.

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