Cloud app policy refers to policies and procedures put in place by enterprises to ensure that the usage of cloud applications by employees complies with the overall corporate security plan as well as regulatory requirements.
Policies Range From Minimal to Highly Restrictive
The cloud app policies put in place by companies can range from minimal restrictions to highly restrictive, blocking almost all cloud app usage. Many companies have started looking for something in between these two extremes, seeking more fine-grained control of their cloud app policies.
This level of control typically permits use of a wide range of cloud apps but with specific restrictions placed on how and when certain activities can be performed by employees. These types of cloud app policies are designed to protect intellectual property and sensitive data from data loss or leakage from cloud apps without needing to block the usage of apps completely.
Cloud App Policy Examples and Reporting
As an example, a flexible cloud app policy might permit the general use of a specific cloud app while blocking its use after work hours or preventing the sharing or uploading of documents likely to contain confidential corporate information.
A variety of software vendors and software-as-a-service companies have launched cloud app policy suites that will help companies enforce their cloud app policies. These cloud app policy solutions often offer unified reporting consoles that provide detailed and real-time reporting on cloud app usage by time, user, department level or similar measurable.
Related terms: Cloud app, cloud computing and Cloud Computing Security Challenges
