Cloud computing is one of the fastest growing areas in digital transformation, and as a result, cloud security has also become a hot topic.

Cloud computing is primarily a way to deliver services over the Internet. It’s not just hosting your data on someone else’s servers (i.e., “the cloud”) – it’s about how you access that data from anywhere, at any time, using any device or application. Cloud computing can be used for anything from storing data, to processing it in real-time, so it’s no surprise that it has become one of the most widely adopted technologies out there today.

The number of enterprise applications that have begun leveraging cloud services has grown exponentially over the last few years. CRM, Supply Chain management, HR systems, Payroll, and Incident management, are just some examples of enterprise applications that now fall under the category of software-as-a-service (SaaS). These offer companies access to fully developed management solutions, which can be easily incorporated into existing workflows, and configured to meet the company’s needs.

Cloud computing allows you to integrate new technologies and solutions into your business more quickly, without having to invest in capital equipment or software licenses.

It provides an excellent way for businesses to increase the speed of innovation by allowing them to experiment with different ideas, without being tied down by infrastructure costs or long-term contracts.

For many organisations, a move to the cloud offers a more cost-effective computing system, than on-premise data centre infrastructure.

A 451 Research Report (commissioned by AWS) study reveals that moving enterprise and public sector IT workloads from on-premises data centres to the cloud can reduce energy consumption and associated carbon emissions by nearly 80%. This saving could then be put back into the business and contributes hugely to a company’s sustainability strategy.

There are some risks associated with cloud computing, with cyber security being at the top of the list of concerns for 85% of organisations who took part in the Flexera 2022 State of the Cloud Report.
Yet with the right data security plan in place, and a strong understanding of what is important to your organisation and its users – you can help mitigate these hazards.

If security is not taken into consideration at every step of the migration process—from planning through implementation—then you run the risk of significant loss of sensitive information, financial damage, and reputational damage.

At its core, cloud security is a set of control-based technologies and policies, all designed to adhere to regulatory compliance rules and protect information, applications, and infrastructure associated with cloud computing use.

It is a broad topic, and one that can be very confusing to navigate.

There are many types of attacks, and there are many ways you can protect yourself against them.

A crucial step is to understand the risks involved with using cloud services. These could include data loss due to malware or unsecured devices; privacy concerns around what kinds of data you are sharing with your cloud provider; and compliance issues related to how much control you have over your company’s data overall.
Cloud service providers do offer some security, i.e., a secure platform for your applications. However, it is important to understand that the applications and services you run in the cloud themselves needs to be secured. You cannot rely on the cloud service provider to secure your applications; this is not in their remit.

Once you have identified these risks, it is important to develop a plan for mitigating them, so they do not become issues in the future. This might involve changing protocols or procedures on the part of people accessing your cloud services (like when someone leaves an email account open). But it could also include more complex measures, like encrypting sensitive information before sending it over the internet or setting up additional firewalls so that even if one layer fails there will always be another line of defence protecting users’ personal information from being accessed by unauthorised parties.

It is clear that cloud security is a tricky area to master; but with the right tools and processes, organisations can ensure that their data is kept secure in the cloud.

CyberHive has launched its Trusted Security Platform to set a new standard in security for data and applications held on servers.
Co-developed with the University of Oxford, CyberHive’s patented Trusted Compute technology delivers real-time intrusion detection to protect critical infrastructure before any damage is done.

For more expertise and more info on Trusted Security Platform, and how it could support your business, contact us on [email protected]