Is The Cloud Safe?
Cloud technology has grown to new heights in recent years. Ten years ago ‘The Cloud’ was jargon, but today it’s a phrase used daily in offices worldwide. More and more businesses are taking advantage of the huge benefits cloud services have to offer.
Although, the sudden and widespread adoption of this new technology has raised some questions. Some want to fully understand what the cloud is before committing their vital company data to it. Most want to find out what the cloud can do for them. But the answer everyone wants to know: is it safe?
What Is The Cloud?
The Cloud is an abstract name for an engineering principle 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 fine details.
Your data may be stored on a single computer, or distributed across multiple servers all around the world. Although, it’s most commonly stored across one or more data centers that are as close as possible to your physical location.
From the perspective of the end user, the big idea behind the cloud is that it ultimately doesn’t matter to you where the data is stored – as long as your server takes care of retrieving your data as quickly and efficiently as possible.
With cloud technology, you are free to forget about the specifics and worry only about the bigger picture.
Safety In The Cloud
Many people are concerned by the idea of their confidential data being distributed worldwide. Often, people imagine small unguarded computers being responsible for vital company information. Although in a cloud setting, this couldn’t be further from the truth.
In reality, there’s hundreds, or even thousands, of computers stacked up multiple stories in height. Data centers make storing and securing data their entire business, meaning they employ high-level cybersecurity and back it up with top of the line physical security too.
In the past, this level of security was only reserved for cash or precious metals. Today, digital assets have the same level of protection. Walled compounds, security gates, guards, and CCTV protect physical servers from unwanted access. Redundant power supplies even protect services against unplanned outages. Additionally, state-of-the-art digital security encrypts data, secures transmission, and monitors services for intrusion.
A modern data center is many times more secure than an office server in your own building. Think about it this way: would you store your cash in a highly secured bank vault or a lock box in your desk?
Convenience
Storing data in the cloud means having easy access and regular backups. Staff across the entire firm can work on documents at the same time, save files, and transfer documents without worrying about redundant copies and saving over previous versions.
The cloud acts, for your firm, as the ultimate productivity and security tool. Many firms haven’t known they needed it until they started using it.
User Security
The most significant threat to your cloud security comes from the users. Creating a weak password or reusing an old one to access your cloud services, opens up your data to easy access by hackers.
Falling for 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 nearly impossible. Whereas, attacking a user with common scams and weak passwords is comparatively simple. These issues can be guarded against and prevented with staff training, awareness, and simple security tools. For example, a password manager can guard against some of the biggest threats to your firm.
In today’s modern tech environment, the cloud is not only safe, it’s very likely the safest, most reliable, and most secure way to store your critical data.
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