Attaining Security in the Cloud
When it comes to cloud hosting, trust earns the top spot in its core operations. This is primarily due to clients entrusting private information to a service provider that controls data on the cloud. Giving a third party the authority to store and use your data may increase vulnerability to loss, theft, abuse or tampering. As fear and apprehension unsurprisingly proliferates among potential users, some words of reassurance are needed.
Whether using a single or multiple cloud service providers, a customer could be at risk when security systems are not in place. Some companies are opting to work with multiple cloud hosting providers to store their data. Through this setup, when one server crashes, they can still have a back-up of lost data on another server with a different provider. When data is on multiple servers around the world however, there is a higher risk of hacking. But this does not necessarily mean that your data is safer on a single provider.
When selecting a cloud host provider, you must look for different types of security measures that they could offer in your contract. This should involve protection not only for your software applications but also for hardware. One of the basic security approaches is encryption: data being seen by authorized persons only. Encryption must be required for static data as well as that transmitted to various servers around the world. With encryption, it is paramount that key management is restricted to trusted individuals only and that contingency plans are available when key access has been compromised. Highly advanced encryption methods could however be too expensive for the customer, which is why companies can opt to build their own.
Access control to information must also be set up depending on the kind of information and level of confidentiality. When policies and procedures are strictly employed with penalties for internal non-compliance, then there is a better chance that data will remain secure. Firewalls have also been widely utilized to ensure that networks are not being attacked by malicious net individuals. Exposure to harmful websites must also be minimized while authentication tokens, certifications and log in challenges must be included in their offerings.
Physical security is also a main concern in protecting data from being accessed or damaged. The servers being used must be located in a highly secure place that can only be accessed by authorized individuals. Password codes, alarm systems and cameras must be in place. The hardware itself must be damage-proof if possible in the event of attackers or natural disasters. When using external media such as flash drives, encryption could also be implemented in tandem with restrictions on the allowable media.
As you choose the cloud service provider to run your applications online, you have to consider all these mentioned security measures before signing that contract. Make sure the cloud service provider prioritizes transparency in order for trust to be earned and sustained. Visibility in all aspects of operations allows you to monitor and identify possible issues and risks in security. When cloud host providers remain open and communicative, customers feel safer to entrust their data for a longer period and even at a higher price.
GMO Cloud has a multi-level security strategy which includes operations, physical infrastructure and network among other factors. This way, customers are ensured that security is a top priority in service provision. Visit the Security page to have a better idea of the company’s strategy in keepingd data safe.
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About the Guest Author:
Rodolfo Lentejas, Jr. is a fulltime freelance writer based in Toronto. He is the founder of the PostSckrippt, a growing online writing business dedicated to producing top quality, original and fresh content. To know more about him, please visit www.postsckrippt.ca. Like him on Facebook or follow him on Twitter, Google+ and Pinterest.
