The Known And Unknown Risk Of Cloud Computing For Business Data
The technological advancement of cloud computing has proven to have some attractive benefits for users. After all the Cloud has made it far easier for businesses to increase the volume of their output without having to increase the number of people producing that output, and in some instance has resulted in companies saving money because they needed fewer employees. Cloud computing has also made it easier to access information with a minimal amount of upfront spending. However, too many businesses jump on the Cloud without having any real understanding of the known and unknown risks of cloud computing for business data. This article will discuss some of the more significant risks that could affect the future of your business.
Ownership of Data
While most larger businesses tend to use private cloud computing, smaller businesses often find it more affordable to use public cloud computing. The problem with public cloud computing is that the cloud providers often include a section in their contract that gives the provider ownership of the data stored by the provider. What this means, is that your provider can not only access all of that data, but can share it with anyone they choose since they own the data. When you sign a contrast with a provider ownership clause, you are basically giving your business data away, and in essence making private confidential data public, In the long run such a contract may harm you in the eyes of your customers and clients, and in some cases, may actually subject your business to lawsuits for not protecting sensitive information.
Therefore it is necessary to read all of the fine print in any cloud computing contract and make sure that you are not giving away or sharing the ownership of your business data with the cloud provider.
Access of Sensitive Material To the Cloud Providers Employees
Another significant risk of cloud computing is that when you store data in the cloud, every employee who works for that provider may have access to sensitive business data including social security numbers of your employees, credit card numbers for company members and customers, and names and addresses. This makes it possible for a unscrupulous employee to collect this information and sell it or use it themselves for less than legal means. While most employees are honest, it only takes one dishonest employee working for the cloud provider to damage your company’s reputation for ever.
Security Issues
Cloud computing also results in many other security risks as well. First of all, services on the cloud even with private providers are shared, which means that it only takes one attack to leave any sensitive information available to seen by others. In addition, If your information isn’t encrypted and doesn’t travel from your network to the providers service by a secure channel then it may well be hijacked somewhere along the way.
Before choosing a provider for your cloud storage needs, you need to be aware of the risks and what the provider offers in the way of security for sensitive material. Even then you need to be aware of the risks that inherent in sharing data and either encrypt the more sensitive data or keep that data under wraps somewhere other than in the clouds. Knowing the risks of cloud computing and dealing with them with help you streamline your business without leaving it open to attack.
