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SECURITY: Eliminate Data Security Risks in the Cloud with the Right Service Provider

 



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We are seeing more and more devices connected to the Internet where data is communicated to a variety of systems – also known as The Internet of Things (IoT). Our world is inevitably growing smarter but a smart world is dependent on cloud technology to connect everything together – it is the glue of the Internet of Everything (IoE). But many people are wary of the perceived risks involved in investing in cloud services, citing security as their main concern. Given the highly publicised security breaches that occur ever so often, leaking sensitive information to the masses, people are right to be concerned with data security. This concern, however, should be the reason why they invest in cloud services rather than avoiding them altogether. The trick is to invest with a Cloud Service Provider (CSP) that is even more concerned with security than you are.

Exposing your information to the cloud can be risky, but information on any system that has a connection to the internet carries equal risk. Many companies believe that by keeping all their information stored on-premise, they are eradicating the risk of breach. “This is not entirely true, says Sadiq Munshi, Product Development Manager of Cloud Solutions at Jasco Enterprise. “While the risk may be reduced, the system is not infallible and a determined hacker can still access information through the internet connection. In fact, on-premise solutions may breed complacency. They give security a cursory thought, believing their systems to be secure with little more than a firewall and physical access security.”

“People see security as a grudge purchase – something that they have to have, but they often only think about security once something happens that forces them to,” continues Munshi. “Because of this, few companies really invest in security from the start and often only add it later as an afterthought. Conversely, reputable CSPs put security as a priority, often making a cloud solution the better, more secure way to go.”

Data security must never be underestimated. It is of utmost importance that a business’ information remains as secure as possible, meaning that security must be a concern right at the beginning of the planning – or even conception - of a solution. Because the reputation of a CSP is heavily invested in the success of securely hosting their customers’ information, they have to put the highest priority on proper data security, going far beyond a fragile firewall.

Munshi adds that proper CSPs make sure that their systems are built with security in mind from the get go. It is important that businesses investing in cloud services do so with a CSP who builds their solutions with data security in mind from the start. A good CSP ensures that security is added to every layer of their solution, from their infrastructure, to their platforms and their software.

“Proper data security should be inherent in the solution and must not be seen as a differentiator,” says Munshi. “Unfortunately, cloud security in South Africa is largely not regulated and, while the Protection of Personal Information (POPI) Act is in place, it is still in its infancy and does not cover all aspects of information security comprehensively. CSPs essentially govern their own security systems, putting the onus on the customers to ensure their CSP covers all the bases.”

According to Munshi, customers who are investigating migrating their systems to the cloud need to ask a number of pertinent questions of their potential service provider to assess the priority they place on data security. The following must be asked, without getting too technical:

1. Where is the CPS’ security situated? A reputable CSP will make sure they have security at every layer of their cloud solution. Also, the CSP will have geo-redundancy with backup and recovery.

2. What sort of redundancy is there for security? There must be more than a single security measure in place. Beyond a firewall, the CSP must offer password protection, encryption and authentication as a standard. Their physical security must also be unquestionable.

3. What optional security is offered? Beyond standard security measures, there needs to be security feature options that are customised based on the business’s needs. Not all businesses would need biometrics, for example.

4. How often is security upgraded and refreshed? Beyond making sure that the security systems in place are of the latest technology, measures such as password protection need to be regularly changed and enhanced to maximise their effectiveness.

5. What guarantees does the CSP offer? While no service provider can offer a 100% guarantee on data security by virtue of its connection to the Internet, it should be able to offer a fairly comprehensive guarantee. In addition, the CSP should be in a position to offer a joint commitment in some form. If not, then the CSP is unlikely to have sufficient security measures in place to protect a customer’s data.

“In essence, the best move a business can make,” says Munshi, “is to ensure that its CSP is more than a service provider. It must be a partner that shares the customer’s interest in security and offers services which are wholly aligned to the business needs, objectives and strategy. A partner that is a trusted advisor to your organisation is as invested in the success of your solution as you are.”


 
 
 
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