It is quite a challenge to figure out a right path on how you can secure your data in the cloud. The different types of cloud that are deployed, such as hybrid or public cloud, play a significant role in complicating the entire idea of cloud computing. In basic terms, cloud technology is a network of thousands of virtual servers that are found in different geographical locations used to store data which can be accessed remotely. A company or an individual can create a compliant and comprehensive cloud computing solution for the storage of their information.
However, the devil is always in the details. It is always advisable to use a nuanced approach to the different uses of cloud computing for you to achieve enterprise grade security. The cloud has offered a safe platform where business organizations can store their data despite the negative attitude peddlers who may want to stay in-house. To avoid losing clients, the large cloud providers are very good at maintaining a tight ship. However, among the millions of such customers, there those that are malevolent in the form of commercial thieves, government spies and hackers. In this article, we are going to discuss the ways through which a business enterprise can safely store its data using cloud computing.
Encrypt
So far, the ideal way to protect your information stored in the cloud is through encryption. Encrypting your data ensures that your data is safe even from system administrators who may compromise your sensitive information. When having a file you want to store in the cloud, you utilize a data encryption software. Such software will create a password for that specific document or file. Then, you can move the file or document to the cloud. Anyone who wants to access the file must have the password. The easiest way to do this is to zip your files into one folder and use a password to encrypt them. Companies can make use of a free multiplatform tool known as a B1 Free Archiver.
Use cloud service providers that encrypt the data
In the market today, some cloud service providers offer local file encryption and decryption in addition to storage and backup services. This means that the service provider takes care of the storage, back up and security of your data through encryption. This increases the probability that no one will gain access to your personal or company information including the server administrators and the service providers. Some of these services are readily available in the market today with Wuala and Spideroak being the perfect examples. For instance, you will be able to get 2GB space with Spideroak for full-featured storage, access, share, sync and backup for free.
Data management
Many data centres and cloud technology service providers suffer from data management systems that are sloppy. There are partial, old and surplus datasets that are distributed throughout the entire storage pool. Trash collection is one of the most significant and most difficult tasks in cloud computing. These are further complicated by a lack of naming discipline and versioning of files that leads to files with same names. It is therefore essential to ensure that you have a comprehensive data management system in the cloud to increase the security of your information.