Cloud computing is one of the hottest topic in IT. From individuals simply wishing to back up their personal files, to employees who work remotely and use the cloud to store data on services, cloud computing is revolutionizing the way people access data.
Whilst many small businesses may not be highly tech-focused, storing important data is something all businesses are concerned with. A lack of understanding of the cloud from your business' management can put this data at risk. To prevent this, employers can turn to enterprise versions of cloud based sharing services.
It has recently been shown that government organizations can break encryption. People also want to protect themselves from organized crime that seek to harvest credit card information or health information, and common cloud practices might not be safe enough.
However, sharing data by using secure sites which encrypt the data, in transit and when it is stored, is relatively safe. These tools are safer than most people’s current practices of sending open emails and storing data on unencrypted computers and laptops.
Data shared and stored in the cloud can be safe but it depends on the cloud provider.
Sharing data through the cloud is actually safer than on the average user's home PC. Cloud service providers such as Google invest millions of dollars in security and have huge teams behind them to support safety in data sharing and storage.
Users should be sure to check to see if the cloud service (app) they want to use has a SSAE 16 certification (compliance speak meaning that they are more secure than the average provider). They can look for this on the service (app's) website. Users should also make sure that the cloud service has a privacy policy. This is their commitment to their users on how stored data will be used.
Always choose a trustworthy premium cloud vendor that encrypts the data with strong user authentication. Large service providers have far more robust data protection and users will find themselves free of headaches in the future.
If you can't afford premium vendors then the cloud probably isn't the best option for your business at the moment. However, cloud computing is set to become a more affordable option in the future as low-power processors become more commonplace.”
Ultimately, if you have the budget, the need and some basic logic, then cloud computing may be the answer for your growing business' data needs.
The cloud is often perceived as a data security threat, but it also has a major role to play when it comes to the fight against malware. In the face of an explosion in malware attacks, security vendors have been developing new weapons to fight the threat and protect data. And in general, security measures are cheaper when implemented on a larger scale. The cloud provider or third-parties can generally offer managed security services which may be cheaper than maintaining an in-house security staff full time.
There are ups and downs to the cloud security model, but security vendors are using the strengths of the cloud to deliver improved security to business and home users.