The Cloud and Privacy: Getting It Right To Ensure Data Security

Cloud computing. It’s a phrase we all know, but we often forget how profoundly it has changed the way we conduct business, and even live our everyday lives.

According to Cloudwards, back in 2018, before the global pandemic changed the way the world worked remotely, Google Drive surpassed a billion users. In 2020, this gargantuan market was worth over $370 billion. By 2025, it’s predicted that this will surpass $832 billion, with over 100 zettabytes of data stored in the cloud. These are astonishing figures.

Yet, for all the advantages cloud computing provides—backups, compatibility, cost savings, flexible working, and software reliance—there are still disadvantages in terms of security and privacy. All businesses and organisations, even home users, need to address these for safer online use. Cloud computing is only going to grow more prominent in a crowded market, and, ultimately, it is another platform that hackers and cyber attackers can use to create security incidents and take advantage of your online personal data.

So, what can be done? A logical five-step approach is provided by the Information Commissioner’s Office that stresses the need to think about access controls to your files and set the most suitable settings—private, public, or shared. Logical password credentials are also paramount: varied, unusual, and with a mix of numbers, special characters, and cases. It seems obvious, but this is a huge area still exploited by online cyber criminals.

Something often overlooked is investigating your own cloud provider’s privacy notice and terms and conditions. If the information is not clear or is concerning, it might be worth shopping around for a more reliable provider. Finally, the type of encryption your cloud provider offers is also worth reviewing. In addendum to this, think about whether you can encrypt information before placing it into the cloud, especially if you hold the encryption key. Giving yourself more control and adding that extra layer of privacy assurance could protect your data even further.

Information stored in the cloud can be detailed and vast. If it ends up lost, compromised, or held ransom, it could have devastating effects on your business, clients, and even your own personal lives. Think of basic Data Protection Principles, and don’t assume that information in the cloud will always be safe and secure. You can take a few extra steps to ensure it is, and CTG can help you do this.

To learn more about this topic, or how CTG can help your organization implement or optimize your cloud privacy solutions, don’t hesitate to contact us.