Data Security In Cloud Computing: Why It Matters

Many companies are going to a cloud computing model in 2024 if they didn’t implement one already. Cloud computing has some potential drawbacks, but many business entities feel that the benefits outweigh them. Each company must look at its needs carefully before making this determination.

Those business entities that go with a cloud computing model need to know about cloud data encryption protocols for security. If you overlook it, that can easily prove disastrous. In this article, we’ll explore the cloud computing model and the security measures your company should implement with it in greater detail.

What Exactly Does Cloud Computing Mean?

First, let’s briefly explain what cloud computing means. Most people have heard this term in passing by now, but if you’re not fluent in the language of IT, you may know very little about it.

Cloud computing means a collection of IT resources. You can access them over the internet. These include software, networking capabilities, applications, data storage, and infrastructure, among others.

Most companies use one of two cloud computing models in the modern era. You can have a public cloud setup or a private one.

Why Get a Public or Private Cloud Setup?

If you go to the cloud-based model for your business entity, you can get a private cloud if you’re dealing with large amounts of data and many different resources. You then have total control over the cloud and how you’re using it. 

There’s a potential downside, though. You must have someone with very strong IT skills, or possibly an entire IT department, that can monitor your private cloud and provide security and updates for it.

You can also buy into a public cloud via a subscription service model. If you know anything about SaaS, or software as a service, this concept equates to that rather well. If you go with a public cloud model, you’re sharing your cloud with other business entities, though you can’t access their resources, and they can’t access yours, either.

You might want a public cloud because some other entity, usually a parent company, handles most of your security measures, updates, etc. This means you don’t need so many individuals working in your IT department.

Now, let’s take a closer look at data security in the cloud model your business selects.

Why Do You Need Cloud Data Security?

Your business entity, regardless of what exactly you do, will collect and store data. That data will usually include things like the contact information of all of your clients. When someone orders something from you, they will typically give you their name, physical address, email address, phone number, and so forth. They will also often give you their credit card numbers and other sensitive data.

You will also likely have personal information about your workers. This includes things like email addresses and phone numbers, but also their social security numbers and other highly sensitive details.

In addition, you will sometimes have documents about your products, some of which might include privileged or sensitive information. You might have documentation about new products you’re developing that haven’t even hit the market yet.

Since you have all of this information on the cloud, it becomes obvious quickly why you need excellent security features. If someone can access the cloud, they can steal that information. 

This can cause identity theft situations and other problems. If that happens, no one will trust your company. Your security lapses will cause customers to abandon you and probably at least some of your workers as well.

What Security Measures Can You Take?

Encryption probably stands out as the biggest security measure modern companies often take who use the cloud. If you encrypt all the cloud information, especially as you’re sharing it within the company’s infrastructure, no one can use it, even if they steal it. You might sometimes encounter a hacker skilled enough that they can decode the data, but that’s very rare.

You can also go with a reliable service provider. You can look into some different ones and see what kind of online feedback they have before you commit. You can set up some strong authentication methods for when someone uses your network as well.

You can see why security matters when you’re using the cloud. If you go with either a public or private cloud, you will want to set up robust security measures and train your employees well. That way, you will retain both your workers and customers.