Although most businesses in the US are using the cloud to some extent for business data, applications, or processes, there’s still a lot of fear around security. Without direct control of where your data is located, how can you know that it’s safe? In reality, most paranoia about the cloud is just that. The cloud is more secure than ever and could even be safer than traditional data storage solutions.

Unfortunately, the days of data security and cyber-crime being “not my problem” are long gone. As many as 143 million people were affected by the most recent high-profile data security breach, which compromised sensitive data. And in the era of big data, companies know more about their consumers than ever before. If your company handles customer data, from swiping a credit card to managing personal information, now is the time to think about how secure that data is, if you haven’t already. What are some things you can do?

Moving to the cloud has many benefits, such as scalability and cost-efficiency. As cloud computing becomes more prevalent, more organizations are moving from in-house data centers to the cloud to capitalize on savings and potential for growth. Yet cloud migrations can be labor-intensive and slow when existing in-house applications need to be re-designed for a move to the cloud. Instead, you may turn to a “lift and shift” approach, in which applications are replicated with no re-design. But is it right for you and your needs?

In our technology-driven world, it’s understandable that along with the benefits that technology provides, it brings a new set of risks. The emergence of data security as a key aspect of business indicates that company leaders understand the potential for security breaches, yet a recent survey of businesses by The Economist reveals that executives may not be giving this threat the attention it deserves. As technology evolves, so do methods to compromise it. Because of this, traditional security measures such as firewalls are no longer as effective as they once were. Therefore, it is critical that the C-Suite understands data security issues that face their companies today and is willing to take steps to combat threats.

With high-profile security breaches and data theft getting attention in the news, it’s important to make sure that your company is protected against cyber attacks and lost data. The speed at which technology is developing can be daunting, but don’t panic! A strong and clear data security policy is your first line of defense.