Everyone talks about “The Cloud” as if it is everywhere, all the time. There’s no denying that cloud-based software is the future of business operations. But when document security is one of your top priorities, you can’t help but ask: “Just how secure is the cloud?”
You might be surprised to learn the answer. Because cybersecurity has become a paramount concern across all industries, cloud-based business platforms and software tends to prioritise secure connections, authorisation, and data management. The cloud offers a wide array of secure tools that can be used to enhance your organisation, accessibility, and workflow. At the same time, cloud-based tools provide a baseline of data security that can be easily integrated into your secure office operations.
What is the Cloud?
The Cloud represents a global network of data centres that repeat and relay data availability around the world. Networks like AWS or Azure provide the infrastructure, while cloud-based software reserve space to store data in multiple regions and zones. This makes data available to anyone connected to the internet within the global sphere of each cloud network.
Each layer of the cloud is secured using the shared security model. Cloud network providers secure the cloud at the physical layer to the firmware. Cloud-based software and platform providers secure their services at the software and communication level, which includes providing secure accounts and service management. From there, cloud users such as businesses and individuals are responsible for security at the account and authorisation level.
Why Store Data On the Cloud?
The data used by your business should be accessible to employees outside the office, but only to authorised users. With the increasing popularity of remote and hybrid workflows, it becomes possible to conduct business without the physical limitations of both the office itself and the wired network that has provided traditional data security. However, now that cloud-based business operations are the norm, cloud-based data management must catch up to meet new expectations.
When your business data is available through a secure cloud platform, you will be able to share documents, screens, and project information with all the participants of a virtual or hybrid meeting in addition to the locational flexibility of out-of-meeting operations.
Benefits of Using the Cloud
There are many profound benefits to using the cloud, including the inherent layered security. Cloud-based operations have hearkened a new era of business flexibility and capability, overcoming the limitations of location from previous decades and centuries.
1. Accessibility
Cloud-based operations are more accessible on many different levels. Disabled employees may work and participate in team projects without leaving the accommodations available in their workplace or home office. However, those in the field, traveling around the world, or currently stationed in a distant office branch will also find the cloud to provide superior accessibility for both meeting attendance and active participation in business matters.
2. Scalability
Cloud-based tools are also infinitely scalable. Once a document has been uploaded to the cloud, you can provide access to infinite copies or easy viewership of one master copy without need of a printer. You can add as many accounts, or as few, as your operations require. You can include additional business locations and their staff, and just as easily pare down the number of accounts that have access to cloud resources.
3. Cost-Effectiveness
Migrating to the cloud provides the opportunity to reduce technical overhead. Cloud services are cost-effective and efficient, especially compared to maintaining your own secure servers and software tools. This is where many business cloud platforms and tools thrive, providing innovative and feature-rich alternatives that are also more affordable than in-house or localised options.
4. Data Redundancy and Backup
One of the greatest benefits of the cloud is that you will never lose a document to carelessness or corrupted data again. The cloud stores copies of client data in multiple server locations. This creates data redundancy so that if one copy is damaged, the others are still available. Backups taken of your system or documents are, therefore, also redundantly stored and reliably available whenever and wherever they may be needed for a restoration.
5. Security
Lastly, cloud networks and cloud-based software services are typically dedicated to high data security. With cybersecurity as a paramount concern, these companies rely on a reputation of staunch security defences in order to maintain a business client base. Each layer of the shared security model is secured to the extent of control for each party. At the user level, you can rest assured that common hacker attacks are likely to be fully defended against, such that you need only worry about which accounts to create and grant access or authority in order to maintain organisational security.
The Cloud Shared Security Model
The most important thing to understand about the security of cloud business software is the shared security model. Cloud providers like platforms and app developers specialise in security right up to the user level. That means server security on the hardware level, the network level, at the software design level, and at the inherent account security level.
The client’s part in the shared security model is in how you use the software. Your business is responsible for creating accounts, ensuring strong passwords, preventing account sharing, and handling your documents carefully. However, if you lock down permissions, you can rely on your cloud platforms and apps to defend your documents and projects from unwanted intrusion.
Embarking on Cloud Migration
From cloud-based business platforms to flexible server hosting, the cloud has much to offer a modern business. With the right strategy, you can even use the cloud to enhance your security standards by dispersing your network operations and creating redundant remote backups of your data that hackers cannot reach from any local server.
Your business can enjoy the many advantages of cloud-based tools and operations while maintaining robust data and operational security. Contact us to learn more about enhancing your business with the latest technology advancements.
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