The Dark Side of The Cloud- Security Issues with Cloud Computing

With cloud computing systems becoming more and more popular across the comp

Some of the concerns stem from the loss of physical control over the data and the risks of sharing cloud space with other companies. Here are some of the main security concerns about using the cloud to store data.

• Privileged User Access- Because sensitive data is being processed outside of the physical control of a company or user, it is more difficult to keep a high level of control over the data. Although most services provide user logins that prevent unauthorized access, one cloud could contain sensitive data from a variety of companies, making it a very sweet target for a hacker who wants to get the most information from a security breach.
• Regulatory Compliance- Ultimately, customers are responsible for the security and integrity of their own data, even when it is being held by an outside service provider. Third party data service providers are subjected to external audits to ensure regulatory compliance. Be sure that the cloud provider that you chose is willing to subject themselves to this same sort of scrutiny.
• Location, location, location- When you are using a cloud, you can't be certain exactly where your data is being stored. This causes concerns because different areas have different laws in regards to data. At first this seems like a minor concern, but it can become a huge one when you think about the difficulty in determining jurisdiction for crimes such as data theft. In addition, your data can violate the laws in the countries in which they are stored without you even being aware of the conflict.
• Shared Goods- The benefit of using the cloud is that system resources can be shared among a larger pool of users, but this is also causing some security concerns. Several companies may be sharing resources on the same cloud and this raises the risk that employees from the other companies may be able to inadvertently or intentionally access the other company's data. Another security concern is the increase in volume of data being transferred over both public and private networks increases the risk of the data being intercepted during transit.

In spite of these security concerns, cloud computing is growing in popularity. As it grows, will these security issues will be addressed and resolved? In a recent report, issued on July 1, 2010 by the United States Government Accountability Office, cloud computing was deemed to put information at risk. In addition,until rules are established to specifically address security issues, government agencies will be hesitant to adapt cloud computing. Agencies that have already begun to use cloud technology have to consider the data stored as “at risk”.

With all of the security issues facing companies that use cloud technology, what types of concerns face individual users, who typically face a different set of security standards? Stay tuned for the next installment.