As more and more businesses consider the implementation of cloud computing, whether to increase the efficiency of their operations, to cut headcount, to decrease their bottom line, or more likely, all of the above, there are several issues of security that must first be addressed.
To begin with, cloud computing is internet-based computing, usually performed through a third party vendor such as www.salesforce.com or Amazon’s SimpleDB (http://aws.amazon.com/simpledb). The goal of these services is to provide business applications online as well as replicate and store software and data in a number of locations (secure servers or data centers). All of this is meant to be done with minimal risk to the user through the displacement and obscuring of details like where and how data is replicated and stored. This all sounds great, but you can’t overlook the obvious concerns.
Privacy seems to be the main issue in any business where secure information is being handled by an outside source. And although they probably only touch a portion of your data, there is still a risk of that information being compromised. Legalities aside (issues of intellectual property often come with an ironclad NDA anyway), you want your data protected from outside discovery, theft, dissemination, or destruction. It never hurts to be aware of the integrity of any company you do business with, so don’t hesitate to investigate their security protocols. You need to be sure not only that they offer data protection and vulnerability management, but also that they have secure systems in place for identity management. After all, no one will be as careful with your property as you, but they are trying to run a business and will surely be inclined to offer you all possible assurances.
Another major concern is recovery. In the event of data loss at one source, backups must not only be secure, but have easy access in order to ensure that business continues to run smoothly. However, this is an issue that can be easily addressed by specifying how and how often you want your data to be replicated and stored. Generally speaking, cloud computing comes with a host of risks and rewards. But as more companies offer remote computing services, it will quickly become clear which ones can provide the type of support and level of security that your business needs to run smoothly and safely.
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