Security can be found in the cloud, expert says
07 July 2011 12:08:18
Though data security is often cited as one of the primary obstacles of widespread cloud computing growth, one expert recently stated that the cloud can offer greater data protection than many traditional solutions.
Writing for BusinessCloud9, Amazon Web Services chief information security officer Stephen Schmidt acknowledged that many companies feel more comfortable having their data stored in house, believing it to be safer from outsider access than if stored in the cloud.
However, Schmidt asserted that, in practice, this is rarely the case. In the cloud, Schmidt said, CIOs actually have more control over data, because the cloud generally offerings greater monitoring capabilities than on-premise solutions. Thus, businesses storing data in the cloud are typically afforded higher levels of data security than other companies.
"For any cloud provider, security must be its top priority," Schmidt wrote."Most organizations don’t have the luxury of dedicating resources to security, unlike the cloud provider, which should be actively investing in security technology, processes and personnel."
A recent study from the IEEE found that businesses are becoming more comfortable with the data security of the cloud, and they say it is no longer the top concern when deploying cloud solutions. Instead, the study found, interoperability is currently the most pressing matter in the cloud.
-McAfee Cloud Security
