Everyone seems to have been talking about “the cloud” for at least the past few years. With more businesses moving to the cloud and taking advantage of the huge benefits that it offers there are still others who are still hesitant due to a few factors.
Some want to fully understand what the cloud is and how it can benefit their business before committing their vital company data to it. But the most important thing everyone wants to know, is it safe?
What is the Cloud?
The Cloud is named for a type of technology that allows you to store, retrieve and work on your data without worrying about the specifics of precisely where or how it is kept. Storing your data on the cloud essentially means saving it on a server without worrying about the finer details of having to keep the server working in terms of power, cooling, security, updates, etc.
There are many different types of cloud and your data may be stored on a single server or distributed across multiple servers all around the world. For the best benefits in terms of speed, it is best to store it in a data center as close as possible to your physical location/s.
From the perspective of the end-user, the main idea behind the cloud is that where data is stored does not concern you. Your cloud server takes care of retrieving your data as quickly and efficiently as possible. The aim behind the cloud is to enable business owners do not have to worry about the costs involved in purchasing and then maintaining server hardware and concentrate on running their business.
How Safe Is The Cloud?
Many business owners are concerned by the idea of their confidential data being available worldwide with little or no security. In the vast majority of cloud settings though, nothing could be further from the truth.
The reality is more likely many hundreds or even thousands of computers all neatly installed in racks with redundant power and cooling. As data centers make storing and securing data their entire business, this means that they have to employ high-level cybersecurity along with the top of the line physical security.
Today, digital assets are treated with security previously used only for cash or precious metals. Walled compounds, security gates, guards and CCTV protect physical servers from unwanted access. Redundant power supplies protect the hardware against unplanned outages and air conditioning is going to 24/7 to keep the servers cool.
A modern data center is many times more secure than an office server in your own building. One way to think of the difference is by comparing storing your cash in a highly secured bank vault versus a lockbox on your desk.
Cloud Benefits
There are numerous benefits for business, with some unique to different industry types but some of the main advantages are:
- Having easy access
- Very regular backups
- Staff across the entire firm can collaborate on the same documents no matter where they are in the world.
- Not having to worry about the upkeep of an on-premise server.
User Security
The biggest threat to your security (either in cloud or on-premise) comes from your own staff. Creating a weak password or reusing an old one to access your services, opens up your data to easy access by hackers.
Clicking on a phishing scam or accidentally installing malicious software on your computer gives attackers the single opportunity they need to strike.
Attacking a fortified, secure data center is almost impossible. Attacking a user with common attacks and weak passwords is comparatively simple. These issues can be guarded against and prevented with staff training, awareness, and simple security tools. A simple password manager can guard against a large number of the biggest threats to your firm.
In today’s modern tech environment, the cloud is not only safe, but it’s also very likely a lot safer than having your server located within your own offices.