Storing your data on a cloud-based storage system seems like a no-brainer. The cloud has changed the way we do business and the way we develop and deploy software and infrastructure. The Security of your data is a crucial factor to consider though when it comes to the cloud and inevitably it will become more important as hackers get more advanced. What should companies do to ensure that their cloud stays secure?

 

The responsibility of protecting your company’s well-being is ultimately the responsibility of the business owner. Thus, the responsibility of protecting your company’s data in the cloud should be shared between the cloud providers and cloud customers. One cannot put all responsibility unto the third party (service vendor) involved.

 

In simple terms, the cloud provider is responsible for the service and the customer is responsible for the configuration and mitigation of the service. If you have some sort of a platform as a service, you’ll have implemented a service that’s hopefully secure, but how you actually deploy your workloads on that system is then your responsibility. This strategy should be implemented on every layer, allowing the company itself to be in control of their data and the protection thereof.

 

Hosting confidential data with cloud service providers involves the transfer of a considerable amount of an organisation’s control over data security to the provider. However, it is the company’s duty to make sure the vendor understands the organisation’s data security and privacy rules and regulations, as well as the organisation’s data privacy and security needs.

 

Always keep in mind that it’s your data and business at hand and even when you transition to the cloud you are still accountable and responsible for what happens with it. Moving to the cloud comes with a series of benefits and rewards if the associated risks are identified and well managed.