The Cloud: Everything You Need to Know About the Invisible Server
Data storage is the foundation of your overall security structure. If your files can be stolen, changed or corrupted very easily, then everything you do online can be erased in the blink of an eye. All that effort you poured into your latest project will be gone, and all that time wasted!
When the world went digital, most data storage did too. Using something besides a physical center that sits beside the monitors reduces risk of theft in the unfortunate event of a break-in. Off-site storage also protects your data from the negative impacts of a natural disaster.
Over time, more and more people are opting to keep their data in the Cloud instead of (or in addition to) local networks. There are pros and cons of both, but the trend itself mirrors the shift from physical to digital storage. What’s more secure than storing files on your local system? Creating backup files in a remote location, with more resources to protect your data, is safer than your private network that a hacker can take down with a few well-placed spear-phishing emails.
With that in mind, here’s everything you need to know about data security in the Cloud.
What is Cloud Security?
People talk a lot about “saving to the Cloud,” but what does it actually mean? Where does all that data go?
The Cloud refers to a collection of many people’s information, all amassed and stored on remote servers somewhere in the hub of your chosen provider. These servers are encrypted and safeguarded with more powerful defense mechanisms than most people can manage on their own. They store all of this data in a massive library that knows just where to pull your files when you need them.
When you want to retrieve data from your Cloud – let’s say, a JPG image – then you would search on whatever browser or app you saved it on for the name of that file. As long as you’re connected to the Internet, the remote server can find and deliver your desired file – or in other words, they search your section of the library for the file name and open up that JPG.
The benefits of this are that you, and others, can access that information from many different devices and you don’t have to be connected to your home network to do so. If you want to collaborate on Google Docs with a colleague, you can both log in and make edits at the same time. Even if you made that JPG at three in the afternoon from your home office, you can access it from the other side of the planet on your smart phone. This has obvious benefits in today’s modern world!
Is the Cloud as Safe as They Say?
The convenience is the main selling point of the Cloud. However, some people stubbornly stick to their tried-and-true physical storage devices. They’ve worked for twenty years; why give them up now? In addition to collaboration and worldwide connection (as long as you have Internet), it’s typically less expensive to use someone else’s storage and safety measures while simultaneously knowing that an expert is managing your cybersecurity overall.
So why do some people stay with what they know?
- Reliance on the Internet means a slowdown in your day if the power goes out
- It can be difficult to trace who has your data and where else it may be being sold or accessed
- Conversion can be difficult; whether you’re switching Cloud providers or simply trying to open a file in an unsupported format, workarounds are time-consuming and hard to come by
- You must rely on someone else to prevent hiccups and combat breaches
- Contracts can be difficult to understand and get out of
Conclusion
Despite some of the drawbacks, Cloud services have revolutionized digital storage systems around the globe. Convenience, lower costs and faster service have made meeting your personal and professional goals so much simpler, without worrying so much about data loss or theft by cybercriminals.
Where do you store your data? Maybe it’s time to make the switch to a secure Cloud server instead.
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