In the old days, we all had to buy desktop computers and load different kind of software onto them in order to run the kinds of business applications that we needed. Now, most of us have switched to laptop computers, tablets and smartphones and stopped buying software. We now use cloud computing (storing data and using applications that stay on the internet) instead of loading software onto our machines. This lets us access our information from anywhere and any device. But are there are risks associated with using the cloud?
Before you sign up for a cloud service, you need to do some due diligence about the provider. Some of your data is confidential (such as customer lists). You are now entrusting the security of your confidential information to another company. If you work in a regulated industry, such as financial services or health services, or you collect credit card information, your requirements for confidentiality are greater than other industries. You must ask the could provider how they maintain security, whether your data will be kept private or mixed with other companies' information.
You need to find out what kind of disaster recovery capability the cloud provider has. After all, if you are putting a substantial part of your company's data on someone else's servers, what happens if their servers get hit by a natural disaster? What plans do they have if their servers are hacked?
You also need to find out how much down time they will have. They will tell you when their scheduled down time occurs - usually in the middle of the night on a weekend. Do you have an international business and do customers do business with you in the middle of the night on a weekend? What about unscheduled down time? What will you do if you can't get to your company's data for 4 hours, 24 hours, or a couple of days?
Another question to research is what happens to your data if there is a dispute. Can the cloud provider hold your data hostage? Are the cloud provider's servers in the United States or are they using platforms in another country?
Yes, there are some wonderful benefits to using cloud applications, especially if you are a small business with a tiny IT department (or no IT department). But, before you go to the cloud, do some research about the cloud providers that you intend to use to make sure that they use the type of practices that work with your needs. Talk to your business attorney if you need to negotiate the terms of the contract with the cloud provider.
Details on Cloud Computing Singapore, welcome to visit the website. A Search Engine Guru marketing article by Dougles Chan.Before you sign up for a cloud service, you need to do some due diligence about the provider. Some of your data is confidential (such as customer lists). You are now entrusting the security of your confidential information to another company. If you work in a regulated industry, such as financial services or health services, or you collect credit card information, your requirements for confidentiality are greater than other industries. You must ask the could provider how they maintain security, whether your data will be kept private or mixed with other companies' information.
You need to find out what kind of disaster recovery capability the cloud provider has. After all, if you are putting a substantial part of your company's data on someone else's servers, what happens if their servers get hit by a natural disaster? What plans do they have if their servers are hacked?
You also need to find out how much down time they will have. They will tell you when their scheduled down time occurs - usually in the middle of the night on a weekend. Do you have an international business and do customers do business with you in the middle of the night on a weekend? What about unscheduled down time? What will you do if you can't get to your company's data for 4 hours, 24 hours, or a couple of days?
Another question to research is what happens to your data if there is a dispute. Can the cloud provider hold your data hostage? Are the cloud provider's servers in the United States or are they using platforms in another country?
Yes, there are some wonderful benefits to using cloud applications, especially if you are a small business with a tiny IT department (or no IT department). But, before you go to the cloud, do some research about the cloud providers that you intend to use to make sure that they use the type of practices that work with your needs. Talk to your business attorney if you need to negotiate the terms of the contract with the cloud provider.
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