Expert debunks cloud security concerns

Friday, April 01, 2011

One of the most criticized aspects of cloud computing has been the technology's security. Even as businesses continue to deploy more and more cloud services, many wonder if their information stored on the cloud will be safe.

However, in a recent report for Infosecurity, Hubspan vice president of product management Margaret Dawson asserted these concerns may be misguided, and data stored in the cloud is no less protected than data stored on any data center, network or application.

According to Dawson, one reason IT professionals question the cloud's security is because the technology is still young. There is an assumption that because businesses do not yet have much experience with the cloud, they haven't managed to protect it against hackers.

But Dawson asserted that many cloud services providers employ "industry-level" security practices that ensure information stored on their servers is protected. This level of security is offered to all users, meaning businesses that have restricted budgets will be provided the same security as big spenders.

In an era of strict data regulation and a growing threat of data breaches, ensuring one's security has become a vital part of business operations. In a recent report, Network World's Jon Oltsik said more businesses are now deploying cloud-based security tools to protect their sensitive data.