Cloud Computing Security: Your Comprehensive Guide
Is the data you send to the cloud really secure? Cloud security practices aim to answer that question with an emphatic "yes."
Your cloud provider will tackle many security tasks for you. Still, every business with a cloud presence also needs to create policies, procedures, and practices to ensure that their data is secure and they are meeting their compliance needs.
Why is cloud computing security important?
Pushing services to the cloud should mean that you tap into an army of experts who help protect and defend your data. But unfortunately, security issues are common. In one study, nearly 80 percent of companies had at least one data breach in the 18 months prior.
Cloud computing security concerns tend to stem from two factors.
- Providers: Software, platform, or infrastructure issues can lead to breaches.
- Customers: Companies don't have solid policies to support security in the cloud.
Data breaches are the top risk companies face. Attackers want data, and companies don't always use commonsense tools (like encryption) to protect it.
Companies often struggle to understand what safety services their cloud providers offer. Many companies also don't build internal systems that put security first.
Companies that work in concert with their providers can lower their breach risks. They'll avoid time-consuming manual security configurations and updates. And they'll have a team available around the clock to monitor and report. Policies at the corporate level can ensure the company does its part to protect security too.
Cloud computing company structure & models
Every vendor has unique security strengths and vulnerabilities. Understanding common cloud types and service models can help you assess risks.
Three main types of clouds are available.
- Public clouds: Third-party cloud service providers (like Google) create one product that many individuals and companies use. Individual companies typically develop policies based on the security requirements for their organization in order to secure access to data stored within the public cloud service.
- Private clouds: You're the only one who has access to and uses this cloud. Disgruntled former employees may inadvertently expose data, so it’s still important to have a proper security implementation in place.