Is the cloud secure?

Cloud computing offers businesses and individual users easy access to data storage and advanced IT services. Its growing popularity, however, has sparked discussions about the security of stored data. See if sharing files in this way is really safe.

Data security in the cloud: this is what you need to know!

Doubts about the security of storing files in the cloud are completely understandable – especially when you’re talking about sensitive data that is subject to professional secrecy or contains customer personal information. Before deciding to migrate your data to the cloud, be sure to familiarize yourself with how it works and the potential risks associated with storing data in such an environment.

What is a data cloud?

It’s a software development model in which you use allocated resources and computing memory by a service provider. You must remember, however, that the Internet itself is not a place to store data, but a medium to communicate with the server where that data resides. The server, on the other hand, is a physical device that can be located anywhere in the world.

To use the cloud, it is necessary to establish an Internet connection and have an account with the service provider. This makes access to your saved files available from anywhere in the world. You can connect from a company computer or mobile device (when logging in from other equipment, you usually have to go through two-factor authentication).

Where exactly are your files stored?

Cloud service companies have their own infrastructure, including data storage devices. The location of the servers depends on the cloud provider, and the choice of location is usually dictated by economic factors. Consequently, a UK-based provider does not necessarily have to have servers in its own country – to reduce operating costs such physical servers can be located, for example, in Kazakhstan.

What does cloud storage look like?

The cloud is a virtual storage facility where users store almost all types of digital files – photos, text documents, audio or video files. Some cloud providers provide advanced interfaces with built-in applications for opening and editing files, such as media players and word processors. One of the main advantages of the cloud is the ability to access stored data from a variety of Internet-connected devices – you don’t need physical storage media when you have all your files at your fingertips. Another advantage is the convenience of backup and recovery of lost or modified files – many cloud services automate the backup process, ensuring continuous synchronization of data from user devices.

Cloud computing – data security challenges

The loss of direct and physical control over stored information is a major dilemma for service recipients. This is because the user has no knowledge of the exact location of the servers on which their data resides, and is also aware that external entities, i.e. the cloud service provider’s staff, also have access to this data.

Another potential security concern is failures that can occur on the part of the infrastructure provider. Unforeseen system outages, hardware failures and even resource overloads can result in temporary data unavailability. Even the most advanced and redundant cloud systems are not completely immune to such incidents, nevertheless such situations are now rare.

How to ensure data security in the cloud?

The absolute foundation is the informed choice of service provider. Starting with the physical layer, all ITH public cloud servers are located in data centers, so-called data centers. Each of them meets standards, at least TIER III. Each facility is secured – there is security on the premises, and only authorized staff members have access to the server room. Each facility has monitoring, access control and, of course, redundancy for all elements of the security infrastructure. What’s more, it has emergency power systems, a guarantee of high availability.

The cloud infrastructure is redundant, which means that we have a whole set of servers. Access to them is properly protected by firewalls and network-server infrastructure logistics. Everything is, of course, properly secured, and the service provider doesn’t even have the ability to log on to customers’ machines without information about login credentials from the customer himself. If the organization requires it, to check the quality of security, there is the possibility of penetration testing, which will show whether the infrastructure is properly secured and meets the organization’s standards.

Adequate security is essential – check the supplier!

Don’t want to expose your company to data loss or malware attacks? If so, check out network services in-house. See what to look for when choosing a provider:

• Verify security standards – does it meet security standards such as ISO/IEC 27000 series? Verify that the supplier has up-to-date certifications for compliance with these standards.

• Evaluate security policies – pay attention to the description of security incident response procedures, how data access is managed, and privacy practices.

• Encryption capabilities – check whether the provider offers data encryption mechanisms, including the ability to use your own keys (BYOK – Bring Your Own Key).

• Service Level Agreements (SLAs) – pay attention to guarantees on service availability, data integrity and disaster recovery procedures.

Data cloud and the General Data Protection Regulation (RODO)

Processing personal data is an integral aspect of modern businesses, and a major challenge in terms of information security. The decision to move personal data to a cloud environment involves a partial loss of direct control over the data stored on servers. This is because the enterprise does not have physical access to its files, and their movement and storage takes place through the systems and infrastructure of an external service provider.

In the process of choosing a cloud provider, an important step is to make sure that the company adheres to policies and standards that comply with the requirements of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) – ITH complies with applicable legal standards, so you can be sure that files and databases are protected from attacks and inaccessible to unauthorized parties.

Summary

Cloud computing offers many benefits, including easy access to files from anywhere in the world and reduced operating costs. However, with the increasing use of the cloud comes concerns about the security of stored information, especially sensitive information. Before deciding to migrate your data to the cloud, you need to understand how this environment works, what risks can occur and how to ensure that your data is properly protected. ITH specialists will dispel any doubts you may have about data security and the risks that come with storing data on a server located elsewhere.