Cloud storage, or online storage, is storage space accessible only online. It is part of the growing use of the cloud such as Desktop as a Service(DaaS), cloud computing and others. While there is a host of storage cloud providers, not all are equal in terms of data protection and security.
You would need to do a provider IT comparison to find the best product for your business or personal use.
The Benefits of Cloud Storage
1. Saves Space
Since the data saved on the cloud (documents, photos, movies, passwords, etc.) are stored centrally on a server, they remain accessible (simultaneously) from multiple devices, which in particular saves space. This is great for a system with limited storage.
2. Accessibility
Moreover, the centralized storage of data makes them accessible from any place, and from different devices connected to the Internet (computer, laptop, smartphone, etc.).
The mobile access allows you to view, share and edit photos even on the move.
3. Collaboration
Finally, cloud storage solution allows several people who are not in the same place to work on the same document, which is of interest from the point of view of productivity and coordination.
The Danger of Cloud Storage
All the advantages presented above are also accompanied by some drawbacks. This is primarily due to the fact that your data is in the hands of third parties!
Privacy and Data Security
Data on the Internet can be systematically breached and analyzed by secret services and hackers.
For this reason, it is advisable to use foreign cloud services such as those offered by providers such as Google, Microsoft, Dropbox with caution.
Depending on the country you reside in, it may be safer to use a local or international cloud storage provider. A solution that makes it more difficult for the government and criminals to steal your data should be strongly considered for your business.
Safety Tips for Using Cloud Storage
There are some precautions you can take to protect your data in the cloud. They include the following:
1. Secure Data transmission
There are two ways to access a cloud service: go directly to the website, using a browser or a specialized application. These points of access can become a security risk if not properly managed.
The absence of a password or a weak password leaves your data open to hackers.
The presence of malicious software on your device also endangers the data you store in the cloud. Similarly, access via unsecured networks - such as WiFis represents a significant risk.
When you have the option, use two-factor authentication. Two-factor authentication provides, in addition to the account name and the password, a temporary access code (sent sent by SMS, email or other apps).
2. Encrypted Data Transmission
Choose a service where the data transmission is encrypted. In your browser, for example, you can confirm this by checking that the address bar starts with https:// and that the symbol of a padlock is displayed. If they are not transmitted in encrypted form, your data is readable by foreign people.
Even if you use a program or application to access your storage space, you must ensure that the data transmission is encrypted.
3. Secure Storage of Data
By storing your data on the cloud, you hand it over to a third party. For this reason, special attention should be paid to data encryption before you store them in the cloud.
In general, it is not possible to verify that your data is correctly backed up by the cloud provider. Better to do regular local backups of data stored on the cloud.
Today, most cloud providers encrypt stored data. But again, you can not verify that this is indeed the case. Furthermore, the encryption of the stored data will not necessarily protect them against the prying eyes of the providers themselves. The safest method is to support encryption and decryption of your data yourself, at least for sensitive data such as your bank statements, tax documents, business contracts, and others.
4. Data Center of the Cloud Provider
Knowing the geographic location of the cloud provider and its data centers provides you with information about the data protection laws to which your data is subject. But the task can often be difficult and, in the event that you have identified the area, nothing assures you that it will remain the same for a long time.
The use of cloud services is particularly problematic when it comes to storing particularly sensitive personal data of third parties.
Particularly sensitive are the personal data include
1. Health, privacy or ethnicity.
2. Prosecution and administrative or criminal penalties.
Cloud storage has come to stay but you must consider the security and legal implications to your business. It is recommended that you do a thorough IT comparison and choose the best cloud providers for your business.
Cloud storage, or online storage, is storage space accessible only online. It is part of the growing use of the cloud such as Desktop as a Service(DaaS), cloud computing and others.