One of the newest business technologies is “the cloud” that more and more people are using. It’s an elusive term that is difficult to pin down, and it is precisely that vagueness that inspires fear in those who are considering transferring sensitive business data to it.
The cloud, however, isn’t as mystifying as you may think, and, if you use an online data drive or social media, you are already using it. Simply put, the cloud consists of networks of servers worldwide that are capable of storing information.
The primary benefit of using the cloud for business is that it eliminates the cost and hassle of purchasing and maintaining a physical server. Also, employees don’t have to waste time downloading and running applications and programs when they can pluck what they need from the cloud and virtually put it back when they are done. While this all sounds well and good, the question remains, “Is business data safe in the cloud?”
The reality of the situation is that even the most sensitive business data, with the right security precautions, can be as safe in the cloud as it is on a company’s physical server.
For one thing, in the cloud, information is stored between multiple servers. This means, if one of those servers goes down, your data is still out there and retrievable wherever you are.
It is like having a backup copy in case a computer crashes or equipment is stolen; you don’t have to worry about losing your business data when you need it the most.
Once people can feel comfortable storing their information in an intangible abyss, there may be lingering fears about who else is capable of accessing your company’s valuable data. Cloud-based services and programs are now giving extra attention to this potential threat and have greatly increased security measures. Aside from 24-hour monitoring and secured entry to facilities where individual servers are kept, there’s more to protect your information.
All of your data is encrypted when it enters or leaves the cloud, and it is continually backed up as well. Your business also retain proprietorship over the data regardless of where it is stored, so there really is no reason not to try increasing your company’s productivity and efficiency by using the cloud.
(Image Source: iCLIPART)