Understanding the Facts: Is the Cloud Safe?

We are living in a technological era where we are constantly gaining access to some of the most advanced and innovative technologies that make our lives better and easier.

While these advancements do bring us a lot of benefits, there’s one question that always surrounds these developments: are they really safe? And included in those concerns is the popular and growing trend of Cloud technology use.

This incredible technology allows us to store our data remotely rather than storing them on our personal computers. This substantially cuts IT costs while speeding up operations dramatically. And while Cloud technologies do bring a ton of benefits, do they also come at the expense of privacy?

Take Precautions to Protect Your Business

The Co-founder of Apple, Steve Wozniak, recently expressed his concern over “everything going to the cloud.” He also said that we might face a lot of privacy issues and troubles in the next five years due to this trend. One of the most real and persistent fears regarding Cloud computing is the possibility of data loss and theft. But when you understand the risks and prepare a disaster recovery plan, you can still experience the benefits of the cloud with protection in place.

Let’s take a look into some of the most common risks associated with Cloud computing:

• Data Breach: One of the most common risks of working in a cloud-based environment is the possibility of a data breach. Many of the poorly-designed and associated applications can actually make the threat from hackers and malware very real. This holds true for both traditional data storage and Cloud computing, but in the case of cloud computing where we are working in a multi-tenant environment, the threat is much greater.
• Hardware Failure: Another situation associated with cloud computing where you have no control is the possibility of hardware failure. Things such as floods, fire, or power outages all lead to the servers where data is stored – which can quickly lead to data loss.
• Session Hijacking: Service or account hijacking involves stealing security credentials and then subsequently using them to get to your data. Hackers can then manipulate it; eavesdropping on your transactions and disrupting your business once they have your credentials.
• Denial of Service Attacks: The dreaded DDoS attacks have become a very common way for hackers to create menace. In the case of cloud computing, a DDoS attack can have some severe effects for the users which can range from loss of valuable data to substantial downtimes.

What is Cloud Abuse?

In many of the cases of major attacks by hacking groups against big business, the hackers used the Cloud as a “vehicle” of the attack, rather than targeting the Cloud itself. Without safeguards in place, hackers have an anonymous platform that can launch sophisticated DDoS attacks that can spread malware and hijack users’ data.

When identifying if the Cloud is truly safe, the answer depends on the business. If precauations and plans are developed to respond to an attack or a disruption of the data being stored, it can serve as a powerful technological tool that provides mobility, convenience, and enhanced productivity. But when misused and unprotected, it can pose significant risks.