Businesses can effectively ensure data security and compliance in a multi-cloud environment by focusing on such majority points:

Implement consistent security policies on all clouds and enforce them through centralized management tools. Regularly audit and continually assess compliance using automated tools to monitor adherence.

Encrypt data at rest and in transit, using the best available standards of encryption and best practices in key management. Apply strong IAM systems, including role-based access controls and MFA, to restrict access to sensitive information.

Use continuous monitoring and logging to allow for the timely detection and response to the occurrence of the identified security incidents. Deploy the Security Information and Event Management for early detection and analysis of the logs of all cloud environments.

It is essential to choose cloud vendors with a strong security and compliance base; contracts should clearly specify security responsibilities. Robust data governance policies should be put in place to manage the lifecycle of data, data classification, and data protection for proper compliance with regulatory requirements.

Also, Periodical training and awareness programs for the best practices of data security and compliance with respect to employees help in effective perception on the topic.