There are a wide range of IT issues that businesses have to keep up-to-date with, not least how secure their infrastructure is˳ There is disaster recovery, data management, and ensuring everything is backed up effectively, not to mention how reliable the service is˳ Many SMBs are starting to use cloud based remote servers because they are affordable, convenient and flexible˳
But the question most people want answered is this: Is it safe?
Moving from server data storage to the cloud
There used to be a time, not long ago, when we kept our files ‘safely’ on hard drives˳ Companies used on site server data storage to keep files and important documents˳ The problem is that we need ever more storage space and greater flexibility and the old ways just don’t provide everything that we need anymore˳ Cloud storage is becoming the solution to many problems of data access and storage for a wide range of businesses˳
The Benefits of Cloud
* You can access it anywhere and store a lot of data and files˳ In fact, with the help of the cloud you can conduct your business on any device with something like a virtual desktop˳
* It comes at a lower cost, freeing up budgets for more important things like product development˳ You normally pay a monthly fee that can be just for data storage or a more nuanced IT provision like disaster recovery˳
* You don’t have to worry so much about downloading security updates because it is all handled for you˳ That means your data is kept safely in a secure environment˳
* It comes with IT Support that saves you the cost of employing someone full time and paying them a salary˳ In other words, you just pay for what you need˳
The Downside of the Cloud
Moving data from one place to another and trusting your IT operations to a remote server raises a certain number of security issues˳ How is your data encrypted? Who has the keys? Is your cloud provider sharing your information with third parties? What happens if your cloud provider suddenly stops providing?
A cloud service might be operating in a different country and therefore subject to different laws or constraints (or lack of)˳ Even if they are operating in your country there’s no reason they couldn’t suddenly up sticks and move somewhere else, taking your data with them˳
A lot of these issues arise particularly when businesses are using free services that have to find ways of making money other than from charging for their provision˳ Neither does using the cloud, with its in built security measures mean that you are safe from hackers – most of the old rules still apply, particularly about having a strong password and changing it on a regular basis˳
The solution is to choose the right cloud provider that is specifically aimed at businesses˳
How to Choose the Right Cloud Storage Provider
As with most things it pays to shop around but there are some common services that a good cloud storage provider should offer:
* A monthly subscription that means you only pay for what you get˳
* Effective backups of data on a regular basis and a disaster management facility˳
* Local encryption and decryption of files so that they are stored safely on the cloud˳
* Access to your data and applications anywhere in the world, whether you are on the road, in a hotel, or at a conference˳ In fact, anywhere there is a Wi-Fi or internet connection˳
There’s no doubt the benefits of cloud storage far outweigh any negatives˳ Whilst security and file backup is an issue, finding the right provider means that you can be sure you are getting the best service and that all bases are covered˳ That means asking the right questions, doing the research, and, of course, reading the user agreement carefully˳
Source by https://ezinearticles˳com/?How-Safe-Is-My-Data-in-the-Cloud?&id=8660303
