Cloud, Security |

June 28, 2016

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Cloud Computing Security Tips And Advice

Are you still pondering whether to integrate cloud computing services into the structure of your IT network? You are not the only one. Most IT professionals are very concerned about data security, so they aren’t that willing to switch to cloud computing solutions that easily. It’s a fact that even advanced services like Amazon’s EC2 aren’t ready to cater to all privacy needs of data-sensitive companies.

Public cloud services are structured in such a way that the same server is used to store data from several clients, via multiple instances. This means you have little to no control over where your data gets stored and who can access it.

Private cloud computing is more secure, as it allows for the level of control required by PCI and HIPAA-sensitive organizations when it comes to their data protection. This is one of the main security measures, hence most IT professionals prefer private cloud hosting to public services.

These are 5 security tips to consider when seeking for the best cloud option for your organization:

Tip 1: Know where your data gets stored.

You can’t secure your data if you have no idea where it lives. You may be able to use firewalls and intrusion detection, as well as data encryption, but these aren’t enough to secure your data. What if your cloud services provider goes out of business or you choose to terminate your agreement with them? What happens to your data in such situations? You need to know very well where your data resides, so that you can have access to it and delete it before anybody else gets a chance to steal it. You need to know precisely the machine where your data lives, hence you should always go for dedicated hardware.

Tip 2: Always make backups of your data.

Cloud computing is great, but you can never know when something could go wrong, leading to major losses of data. This is why you need to have a solid data backup system in place, so that you can always have control over it. These incidents are quite frequent in the industry, some big mobile operators having lost the data of their customers on some occasions.

Tip 3: Check out the security measures implemented by your data center.

If you followed the first tip discussed here, you know where your data gets stored, so you can test the security of the server. You need to check whether they are SSAE 16, SAS 70 and SOC 2 audited. Moreover, ask if they have any HIPAA or PCI certified. All major data centers are proud to offer their clients a wide range of security services such as managed firewalls, intrusion detection and antivirus solutions. All these are very good, as they allow for a better security of your data stored on their managed servers. One thing is to ensure you look at some good review sites when looking for storage – this site offers an insightful guide.

Tip 4: Read reviews and get references from current customers.

Client references are the best way to find out whether the cloud hosting provider is good or not. You should ask them to provide you such references before signing up with them. If you see a lot of institutions from data-sensitive industries such as healthcare, insurance, financial or government organizations, you have good chances that your data is going to be secure. What’s good for this type of companies is also good enough for you. In addition, you should contact some of these references directly, the purpose being to find out what steps they have implemented in their data securing protocols.

Tip 5: Always test everything.

Don’t trust anyone, assume nothing, and always test everything by yourself. If needed, you should hire a professional ethical hacker to seek for vulnerabilities and loopholes. If you manage to hack the data, how can you be sure nobody else would?

 

Cloud |

May 30, 2016

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4 Reasons To Start Adopting The Cloud

Should enterprise apps be moved to the cloud? This is one of the most common questions lingering on the minds of IT departments, a great number of which rely primarily on conventional applications for their everyday business operations.

If you’re in the field of Information Technology, then there’s a good chance you’ve stumbled upon these apps–be it an old Java application or a .Net application that utilizes SQL servers. While these traditional apps have been around for a long time, they are still far from being considered “legacy.” They actually remain extremely useful, allowing businesses to serve a variety of essential functions.

The dilemma about what should be done to these apps has prompted a debate, dividing IT professionals into two parties: one that supports “cloud now” and another that abides by the old adage, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”. However, such an all-or-nothing argument doesn’t serve IT any favors. It doesn’t take into account the difficult decisions businesses must go make when it comes to figuring out which apps must be moved to the cloud.

Proponents have repeatedly stated the many advantages to using cloud-aware apps. They’re easier to manage, better connected and simpler to scale. But this only scratches the surface. The following are less talked about benefits of moving traditional apps to the cloud.

 1. Adopt cloud step-by-step.

A great number of companies dismiss cloud adoption simply because they do not know where and how to begin. Businesses must start to realize that the cloud should be treated as a marathon instead of a sprint. I have witnessed some enterprises adopt the cloud in a gradual fashion, breaking down their gigantic app in order to determine which parts are more convenient to manage and perform better in the cloud.

 2. Cloud is extremely cost-effective.

Cloud technology is very affordable, giving companies the opportunity to try moving different pieces of their traditional application to see what works best. Creating another app version and breaking it apart to determine how it would work in the cloud can prove immensely helpful. The risks are low while the rewards are high. All this is enabled by cheap cloud technology, as opposed to traditional infrastructure which can be very costly to maintain.

 3. Infrastructure expertise at your fingertips.

It is reason for an IT department to hire hardware specialists to ensure that things run as smoothly as possible, but staffing a bunch of them could mean shelling out huge amounts of money which the company could otherwise keep. Managed cloud providers are very popular nowadays, eliminating the need to hire full-time IT employees while enjoying essentially the same benefits. This enables your IT staff to put their time and attention to new and innovative projects that can provide your business with real value.

 4. The cloud ushers in a new era in IT.

Perhaps this is the biggest benefit that many fail to realize. If your business revolves around software, adopting the cloud enables you to leverage agile development practices that put your business ahead of the curve. Speeding up the development cycle while simultaneously reducing the time to market already plays a critical role in the success and survival of countless businesses. Advancements in cloud technology have initiated the evolution of IT, as well as a cultural shift seen across a variety of industries.

Remember that it’s not always necessary to move your entire app to the cloud at once. What’s important is that you take the necessary steps to gradually adopt the cloud and explore the many advantages it can bring to your business. Failing to do so could cause you to lag behind your competitors.