Episode 
23

Cloud Security 101: Simple Steps for Google Drive

5 minutes 05 seconds
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Your cloud storage is an extension of your hard drive, holding years of personal photos, financial documents, and work assets. Services like Google Drive are secure by default, but the most common security failures are caused by incorrect sharing and access settings. This episode gives you a quick, simple checklist to ensure your cloud is properly secured.

Step 1: Revoke Access to Old Sharing Links

We often share links temporarily, but forget to turn them off. An old, forgotten sharing link is an open back door for anyone who happens to find it.

  • Action: Go to your cloud service's "Shared With Me" or "Manage Access" section.
  • The 5-Minute Fix: Systematically review every link you have shared. If the file contains sensitive information and the project is finished, change the link status from "Anyone with the link" to "Specific People Only" or revoke access entirely. Do this monthly.

Step 2: Enforce Strong Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

Your cloud account is the key to your digital life. If a hacker gets your password, MFA is the only thing stopping them from seeing everything.

  • Action: Navigate to your Google Security Settings and find the "2-Step Verification" option.
  • Upgrade Your Protection: Use a physical security key or an authenticator app (like Authy) instead of relying on SMS text messages. Text codes can be intercepted, but app codes cannot.

Step 3: Audit and Remove Old Devices

Every computer, phone, and tablet you have ever logged in from might still have access to your cloud account. If you sell a device or lose a phone, its access remains active unless manually removed.

  • Action: Look for the "Your Devices" or "Security Checkup" panel within your cloud account settings.
  • Clean House: Review the list of active devices. If you see any device you no longer own, use, or recognize, immediately sign it out. This instantly kills the device's token and revokes its access to your files.

Actionable Takeaway

Cloud security doesn't require complex coding. It simply requires conscious access management. By spending five minutes on these three steps, you close the most common security gaps in your cloud.