Cloud computing is a natural fit for cybersecurity.
For large corporations and even small and medium-sized businesses, the cloud offers a variety of benefits that can improve operational performance. And for most companies, moving to the cloud and leveraging cybersecurity is an essential step toward future growth.
It’s becoming more and more common for companies to outsource their IT needs to save time and money, but with increased outsourcing comes increased risk.
In this blog, we’ll look at the benefits and risks of cloud computing as well as cybersecurity.
Why is Cloud Computing + Cybersecurity the Best Choice?
Cloud computing is at the top of its popularity and for a good reason. It makes companies more efficient, productive, and profitable. Though the cloud does have some drawbacks when it comes to security, there are far more benefits than outweigh them.
Scalability
One of the most prominent benefits of cloud computing is its scalability. When it comes to cybersecurity, this means that companies can now have access to data security solutions and protocols that they couldn’t afford on their own. As their businesses grow, so will their cloud-based security solutions and protocols by using firewalls and other tools when they need them.
Custom Security
Another benefit of cloud computing is that it allows companies to customize the level of protection they receive based on their specific industry or business needs. For example, if you’re an e-commerce company, you can focus specifically on data security measures for credit card information as opposed to a government agency that might have different regulations or concerns. You can even customize protections based on your specific business model—a SaaS provider would have different needs than an IaaS provider.
Instant Data Access
Cloud computing makes it easier for employees to work from multiple locations on multiple devices like smartphones and tablets. This can help improve productivity, especially if the company has employees that work remotely or travel frequently.
Secure Data Storage
Companies use cloud computing to store information in offsite data centers, accessible through the internet by authorized users. The cloud stores data securely so that it takes a lot more effort to steal information than with traditional storage methods like hard drives and memory sticks.
Quick Information Sharing
Cloud computing allows for faster access to information which means less time wasted searching for files or waiting for them to download from an email attachment. Not only does this increase efficiency, but also improves customer service as well because customers don’t have to wait as long when making inquiries about products or services offered by the company.
Inexpensive; No Infrastructure Costs
Cloud computing offers cost benefits because you don’t have to invest in expensive hardware equipment or software systems to get started. You also don’t have to worry about spending money on servers and other IT infrastructure and cybersecurity architecture, as everything from data storage to upgrades is taken care of by your service provider. This makes it easy for small businesses to manage their technology needs without straining their budgets or resources.
Automatic Software Updates
Most cloud service providers offer automatic updates as part of their service, so users don’t have to worry about downloading or installing updates and patches.
This saves them time and makes it easier to get new features without having to buy new versions of the software they use.
What are the Downsides of Cloud and Cybersecurity?
Cloud Computing has become a bit of a buzzword in the past few years. While some people are still hesitant to adopt this technology, many businesses have already made the transition. And while there are many reasons why Cloud Computing can be beneficial, it also has its share of risks.
So is it worth it? Let’s dive into the three main risks associated with Cloud Computing and see how you can mitigate them.
Concerns about Outage
The biggest drawback of cloud computing is not having access to the data if there’s an outage on one of their servers or something happens where they can no longer provide service for some reason (e.g. natural disaster). In this case, you’ll need a physical backup to resume your work and if all your data resides on the cloud, you may need to wait until the cloud reboots to begin your work.
Solution: A great solution to handle this issue is to choose a reliable provider. There are many cloud computing services online and you can get the help of an IT consulting firm to choose a provider where there are no such issues.
Concerns about Data Security
One of the things that makes people feel uncomfortable about storing their data in the cloud is that they don’t have control over it anymore. You store all of your sensitive data online and trust one or several third-party providers to keep it safe, but what if they fail?
What if you accidentally delete a file and forget to check your trash folder? If you don’t have a backup, all that information will be lost forever, and there’s nothing you can do about it.
Solution: You can use backup and recovery solutions to keep your data safe even in case you inadvertently deleted your information. While this is a common issue, this happens with all systems — both physical servers and the cloud.
Concerns about Insider Threats
Insider threats are a big problem for cloud computing. The cloud is only as secure as its weakest link, and the weakest link is often the people who have access to the data.
There are employees in your organization who have access to sensitive data, and they may not be using it responsibly. Sometimes, that’s because they’re malicious — they’re actively trying to harm the company by selling or leaking sensitive information. However, most other times, it’s because they aren’t educated about security or safety protocols. They might be sloppy with their passwords or click on phishing links because they don’t recognize them as suspicious. This could harm your entire cloud network.
Solution: The best way to handle this issue is to conduct regular safety programs and educational seminars to keep your employees appraised about the safety measures they need to follow.
Looking for a company offering IT consultant service and security service in Corpus Christi? Reach out to our team today to get guidance on the latest cloud security measures and protocols.