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Can the Cloud be Trusted with Your Business Data?
There are numerous advantages to keeping data on the cloud, but many firms are hesitant due to security concerns. 63 % of small and medium-sized enterprises believe that the cloud should do more to safeguard their data. So, can you put your business data in the cloud?
In the end, ‘the cloud’ is just another company that handles your data. So, whether or not you can trust the cloud is an issue of whether or not you can trust that company. You must conduct thorough research into the service provider you consider to verify that they prioritize data security.
We’ll look at if cloud data storage is good for you in this post, as well as how to determine whether you can trust cloud providers with your data. However, it’s crucial first to comprehend why you’d want to use the cloud in the first place. Let’s take a closer look at some of the benefits.
The advantages of storing data in the cloud
Keeping all of your business data on in-house computers is an alternative to storing data in the cloud. On the other hand, building your data center has a lot of disadvantages: it is costly, energy-intensive, and time-consuming. Managing a server can suck up a lot of your IT department’s time.
When you use the cloud, you’re essentially outsourcing your in-house data center to specialists who can handle all of the upkeep for you. You won’t have any of the expenditures involved with maintaining energy-sapping servers around the clock, and you’ll save physical space in your office.
Cloud storage is also significantly more adaptable and expandable. If you need extra space in your data center, you’ll have to invest in an expensive server with considerably more capacity than you need. You pay for what you use with cloud storage, which means you’ll save money and make things easier for your business to manage.
The risks of cloud storage
While you may be aware of all the advantages of cloud storage, the security measures in place may not persuade you. Some companies are wary of employing cloud storage because they don’t understand the security procedures or aren’t confident that their data will remain safe.
This is justified in some ways. Of fact, no matter how many security mechanisms are implemented, security can never be guaranteed 100 %. Cybercriminals are becoming more sophisticated every day. Hackers can breach a business in various ways, including phishing, DDoS assaults, and different other methods.
The concept of data privacy, on the other hand, is a critical concern for organizations. Finally, your data saved in the cloud is in the hands of another company, and governments have the power to demand information from these businesses. Even though many cloud providers pride themselves on their privacy, some data will be shared with government authorities.
Reasons to trust the cloud with your data
Security benefits
While these concerns should be considered, it is also crucial to realize that keeping data on the cloud can have several security benefits. Cloud storage providers have a vested interest in ensuring that their facilities are very secure. Servers are typically located far away from personnel, and they also benefit from numerous physical and cybersecurity safeguards.
Providers will encrypt their data and implement incredibly robust cybersecurity software and processes — the kind of security that is just not possible or cost-effective for most organizations. This makes breaking into cloud storage providers difficult, discouraging many people from even trying.
Your data could be subject to malware infections and ransomware assaults on in-house servers, although the possibilities of these being used effectively against cloud service providers are pretty minimal.
Even better, cloud providers will back up their servers comprehensively and keep several copies of the data on hand. This means they’re not at risk of things like a building fire or a significant fault, which may be a problem if your company uses an in-house data center.
How cloud vendors protect data
You must understand the types of defenses that the cloud services provider has put in place for your company to feel confident that it can trust them. When deciding on a cloud storage service, you should consider whether or not they have essential security features.
Here’s a rundown of some of the most significant security aspects to look for in a cloud services provider:
Physical measures
The first thing to look for is physical security measures in place by the cloud services provider. When fraudsters obtain physical access to a cloud storage provider’s premises, it can be just as destructive as a cyberattack. The actual placement of the servers is a concern here; does the provider offer data centers in a variety of locations? Spreading your data across many data centers is a great strategy to reduce the chances of data loss or theft.
Many physical security measures, such as CCTV for round-the-clock surveillance and concrete barriers to prevent vehicular access and ram-raiding, should be implemented at the cloud provider’s premises.
Encryption
Encryption is one of the most critical protection lines for any cloud security service. To keep data stored in the cloud hidden, complicated algorithms are used. Without the encryption key, encrypted data is worthless and operationally impossible to decode — it would require so much time and processing resources to do so that the operation would be pointless.
Data encryption is regarded as one of the most critical aspects of cybersecurity since it ensures that even if thieves gain access to your information, they would be unable to exploit it in any way. Look for cloud service providers who can encrypt and decode your files locally, as well as provide backup and storage. This ensures that your information is entirely safe at all times.
Cloud security controls
Your cloud services provider should also implement various cloud security safeguards to ensure that data is always secure. Because there are so many different controls, you’ll need the provider to explain which essential measurements they employ. The following are a few of the most important:
Preventative controls
While preventative measures cannot remove vulnerabilities in the system, they enhance the design. They could include features like cloud user authentication, preventing unauthorized users from accessing the system.
Deterrent controls
These effectively decrease system attacks by advising potential attackers of the system’s strong defenses.
Detection controls
Any incidents against a system are detected and responded to by these measures. The design, network, and endpoint monitoring are examples.
Reactive controls
These controls aim to restrict the system’s damage in the event of an assault. They might, for example, restore a system backup to reconstruct the system.
Conclusion
No system is perfect, and cloud service providers are no exception. However, if you choose a provider with solid safeguards, your company may reap the many security benefits of storing data in the cloud. You can also reduce your risk by implementing strong cybersecurity practices in your system and ensuring that you have a backup of all data in case of a worst-case scenario.
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