The cloud offers a great deal of convenience for its users, whether they work remotely or need to store large amounts of data and don’t have the space. However, using the cloud comes with its own set of challenges, and here are some of the most common issues and how to overcome them.
- Security
While cloud providers all like to boast that they offer secure storage, it is possible to hack documents in the cloud, and many people are concerned about placing sensitive information on these servers. There are a number of ways to make cloud usage safer. For starters, don’t put your most sensitive information on the cloud, and make sure any information uploaded is in an encrypted format. In the event of a data breach, this will make it almost impossible for a hacker to read personal information.
Those who use the cloud are vulnerable to malware and viruses, so it’s important to keep your software up to date and install software such as McAfee, which allows you to scan files that are uploaded and downloaded, protecting your system.
- Availability
Like any server, the cloud can and does have downtime, which can mean you can’t access your documents. Not to mention, if your own WiFi fails then you can’t retrieve things you need from the cloud. If there are certain documents that you just can’t work without, you need to ensure you also have local copies backed up.
There’s also the risk that a cloud provider could go out of business, meaning a permanent loss of data, which is why backing up your files is so important.
- Zombie data
While there are lots of files you’ll need to keep a hold of, there are also many reasons why you may need to delete something permanently. However, using the cloud can mean old files can’t be permanently deleted, which could be troublesome if the data was hacked, as it may be possible to recover information you thought was long gone. It’s important to find out your cloud provider’s policy on deleted data, and ensure you’re not just deleting files locally, but also any back-ups.
- Internal access
Keeping information on the cloud means that once an employee has access, they can potentially get into all sorts of files. There have been a number of cases of internal cyber-breaches, where employees have accessed and distributed company files either as a malicious act or for profit.
It’s important that employers are cautious about who gets to access cloud data, putting measures in place to monitor usage and protect the most sensitive information.
- Legal issues
If you use the cloud and something goes wrong, such as a hack, you put your business at risk of legal liability. Customers could argue that you were careless with their data, especially now that GDPR regulations have made processing data much more complex. Therefore, you should take the highest precautions when working with the cloud. Although it can be a great tool for IT professionals, it’s not something that you can trust completely.