It is certain that the cloud is an excellent solution for automating processes in schools and universities. After all, it enables the application of various resources that make teaching more flexible and accessible, facilitate distance learning, and multiply the possibilities for teachers to address content inside or outside the classrooms.

However, being a relatively new tool in the market, many people still have concerns about security and data protection within cloud computing.

The good news is that by migrating to the cloud through reliable providers, it is possible to reinforce the security of the environments. AWS (Amazon Web Services), for example, considered the most adopted and most comprehensive cloud platform in the world, provides the most advanced information security technologies, including various protection protocols, backup routines, and constant updates, which ensure the protection of the data of students, teachers, and collaborators.

But, like any other technological resource, the cloud also demands some precautions that must be adopted by users to ensure more security in all processes.
In today's article, we, the CodeBlog team, present some of the best practices for cloud data security for schools and universities.

Want to find out what they are? Then, read on and check it out!

1. Access Control

Without a doubt, being able to access various materials, files, and platforms through an internet connection is one of the greatest advantages of cloud computing for educational institutions.
The cloud allows students and teachers to be integrated into a single environment and access documents at any time through smartphones, tablets, or computers, without any geographical limitation. All this ease and scope requires some care, especially regarding control.
The first step to historical security is to apply access restrictions. The best alternative for this is to create a registration for students, teachers, and collaborators who use the cloud environment.
In addition, it is important to adopt monitoring tools to track which users have permission to view, edit, and store files and verify if all connected devices are properly secure. It is also necessary to create different passwords for each user and, preferably, that can be changed from time to time.
Finally, it is also necessary to pay attention to the institution's turnover. Whenever some collaborator leaves the company, their login must be immediately deleted to avoid external access or intrusion attempts.

2. Awareness

Taking into account that, in an educational institution, many people can have access to data, it is essential that all users know the importance of keeping information protected.
The best way to ensure that everyone is well-informed and aware of this subject is by promoting training.
For this, it is worth investing in courses, lectures, and workshops with best practice tips.
It is also important to apply some reminders on the platforms with some useful information, such as the importance of not opening suspicious links, not sharing access with third parties, and protecting connected devices with antivirus and antimalware.
With a few simple steps, it is possible to establish a security culture, capable of safeguarding data and promoting a more reliable digital environment.

3. Backups

When it comes to data, you can't be too careful, whether they are hosted in the cloud or not. Therefore, it is fundamental to always have a second, or even third, backup of the stored information.
By having security as one of its main differentials, the cloud environment promotes agile and efficient backup routines, which can be easily customized and adapted to meet the needs of each institution.
In this context, the AWS cloud, developed by Amazon and made available by CodeBit, counts on various backup and data recovery strategies, which ensure to educational institutions the availability and integrity of all files, systems, and information.
Thus, if an eventual problem arises, such as failures, interruptions, or intrusion attempts, the information can be recovered quickly. No headache, no loss of productivity, and no damages.

4. Encrypt!

Even though data in the cloud can be accessed only by users who have an authorized login, the dreaded leaks can still occur, either through network failures or user carelessness. Therefore, it is essential to use encryption.
In practice, it acts as an extra layer of security, promoting the conversion of data from a readable format into an encoded format.
That way, encrypted information can only be read or processed after being decrypted with a key.

Now that you already know some of the best practices to guarantee security in the cloud, are you ready to migrate?

If you wish to discover how the cloud environment can transform your institution's processes with security and reliability, rely on the CodeBit team.

Our team of specialists offers a series of solutions in partnership with AWS (Amazon Web Services) to guarantee the support that your institution needs in all this journey, from understanding the level of technological maturity to the implementation of cloud environments with high efficiency and low operational cost.

Click here, access the website, and check all the services offered to assist and support educational institutions in the processes of implementation and maintenance of the cloud model.

For the rest, keep an eye on CodeBlog. Soon, we will have many novelties here.

A big hug, and see you in the next post.