Is my data really safe in the Cloud?

cloud-computing-security

We hear that question a lot and it’s certainly understandable. After all trusting another company with your critical business data is a big leap of faith.

That’s especially true when your data is going to a far-distant data centre, owned by a company you’ve never had any personal contact with.

So we get it. But the Cloud is here to stay.

Companies like Microsoft, Google, Amazon and IBM all have a vested interest in making sure that your data is completely and totally safe. That’s why you’ll hear terms like AES-256 or Blowfish-448 encryption.

Here’s the reality: the U.S. Government uses AES-256 encryption for storing classified and top secret documents. Blowfish is just as secure, as long as you use an effective password.

And that’s really the crux of the matter: the biggest risk to your data is your password. If you choose a simple password for your encrypted data then a determined hacker may be able to get at it.

That’s not a certainty, by the way: most Cloud providers will lock out intruders after a few failed password attempts. But the more complex you make your passwords, the less likely it is that anyone - even government agencies - will be able to access your data.

Now, ask yourself a simple question: is the data on your office computer or your server encrypted?

If your answer is NO, then you’re like most computer users. But once that data makes its way into the Cloud, it’s actually more secure than it is in your own office.

How is that possible? It’s actually pretty obvious: Cloud providers have much stronger security provisions than the average business. They have to - that’s their business. So your data is encrypted, stored in multiple, redundant data centres and protected by round-the-clock physical and electronic security.

That being said, not all Cloud providers are created equally. And the needs of every business are unique. For more information and to see which cloud solution is the right fit for your organization, please ask your Connectability representative. We’ll be pleased to help.