Many small business owners feel safer after moving to the cloud—and in some ways, they are. Big platforms like Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, Clover, or Shopify offer strong security on their end. But here’s the catch: they secure their infrastructure - you still have to secure your accounts, devices, and decisions. Thinking "we're in the cloud, so we're safe" can leave dangerous gaps in your defenses.

The Cloud Handles the Tech-But You Control the Keys

Cloud providers invest millions in security, but that doesn’t make your account bulletproof. Most cloud breaches happen because someone’s login credentials were stolen, MFA wasn’t turned on, or a user clicked a bad link. Just like locking your office doesn't protect you if someone has the key, cloud security only works if you manage access well.

Questions to ask yourself:

• Does every employee have their own login?
• Are you using strong passwords and two-factor authentication (2FA/MFA)?
• Do you know who has admin access?

If the Cloud Fails, What’s Your Backup?

Even cloud platforms can go down—temporarily or permanently. A vendor breach, account suspension, or even a billing issue can lock you out. If you don't have access to backups, contact details, or alternative workflows, your business could stall for days.

Recommendations:

• Regularly export backups of critical data.
• Know how to contact vendor support—even if email is down.
• Document what to do if you can’t access key accounts.

Phishing Still Works - Even in the Cloud

Hackers love small businesses because they know many rely on personal email accounts and don't have full-time IT support. A convincing email that looks like a Google alert or a fake invoice can trick even tech-savvy users. Once access is gained, attackers can steal data, impersonate your business, or lock you out.

Mitigations:

• Train employees (even briefly) on how to spot phishing attempts.
• Use email filtering features (like Gmail’s enhanced protection).
• Require approval before transferring money or changing bank info.

Vendor Security Is Your Responsibility Too

If you rely on cloud vendors for critical tasks—like payment processing, inventory, or point-of-sale systems—you need to ask: What happens if they get hacked? Just because you outsource a service doesn’t mean you outsource the risk. As the business owner, your customers still see it as your problem.

What to do:

• Ask your vendors about their incident response plans.
• Make sure contracts include breach notification clauses (see CISA CPG 1.G–1.I).
• Have a simple plan for switching or working offline in an emergency.

Conclusion: The Cloud Helps—But It’s Not a Security Strategy

Cloud tools are amazing for small businesses. They reduce IT complexity and keep systems up to date. But too often, small businesses confuse using the cloud with being secure. Real security requires intention: knowing your risks, securing your access, backing up your data, and preparing for when—not if—something goes wrong.

Bottom line: Cloud doesn’t mean covered. It just means the starting line is more secure. The rest is up to you.