Cloud computing is fast becoming a mainstream business tool, offering a cost-effective and reliable IT solution that supports businesses growth and development. Unfortunately, today’s technological advancements and increasing security threats are giving rise to concerns about the efficiency of cloud computing security.
For businesses considering migrating to the cloud, data protection is hugely important. While cloud computing inevitably brings a layer of vulnerability to users due to the nature of a remotely hosted server, they are ultimately no more susceptible to attack and security threats than on-site providers.
Below we explore the true nature of security in the cloud and how the benefits of this technology far outweigh any negatives.
To the average person, a ‘cloud’ refers to something that is obscure and porous. In business terms, the cloud is a robust infrastructure that provides reliable and efficient data storage and protection. The majority of cloud service providers carry out regular security and maintenance of cloud servers, ensuring maximum protection of data using their specialist knowledge and expertise. After all, if they want to stay in business they need to do a good job. It is however the responsibility of businesses to make sure their provideris providing the right security and compliance measures for their requirements.
The security of server data doesn’t solely come down to the type of software used, as both traditional IT infrastructure and cloud servers share the same vulnerabilities. The level of data protection depends mostly on the security state of each data centre. Businesses who want to protect their most sensitive data can purchase private cloud deployment models to manage on site. Others with a smaller budget can opt for hybrid cloud models which can be customised to meet their specific data protection needs.
To find out more about the different cloud deployment models, take a look at our Types of Cloud Computing page.
There is a common misconception that businesses cannot control where their data lives in the cloud. Although cloud service providers host the data on their servers, companies are still in control of where this information travels and how it is protected – both during transition and at rest. The key to this is choosing a provider that offers maximum transparency and secure cloud hosting solutions.
Shared cloud environments such as public clouds involve the sharing of storage, processing and other computing services among several businesses. For many, this deployment model suggests a heightened level of vulnerability due to threat of attack from another customer. However, research shows it is very difficult for an attack to be triggered in this environment and many cloud service providers offer options to mitigate the risks. One such method is partitioning off each customers’ data in the data centre.
In terms of external internet threats, when appropriate security measures for preventing and detecting attacks are in place, data in the cloud is no more vulnerable than data stored on any other piece of infrastructure.