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Exploring the Significance of Data Protection in the Cloud Era
As the number of remote workers increases, so does the need for protecting access and movement of company data across various known and unknown networks. A robust cloud data protection model serves to:
- Maintains data visibility
- Ensures data integrity
- Maintains compliance
- Ensures data security
- Manages data storage
- Helps outline a disaster recovery plan
- Helps make informed decisions
. The symphony of hybrid-cloud adoption isn't just heard in the peaks of scalability but resonates in the subtleties of operational harmony, where institutions navigate the cadence of change with finesse and grace
Data Security
Ensures data security Another plus of data protection on the cloud is the systematic definition of
unifying policies applied across all layers. Policies about data storage, data dictionary, access rules, and role-based permissions prevent any form of intrusion, keeping sensitive data secure. Cloud data protection models typically secure data across multiple environments by providing the means to encrypt and monitor data in every file and at every user level. This visibility helps IT staff and DevOps teams seize control of the complex setup. Cloud data protection offers a step-by-step strategy to eliminate any threats to company data. Contemporary cloud data protection solutions also identify risks and data anomalies proactively, allowing security teams to shut down any attempts of cyber-attacks or malware injection.
Compliance
Compliance regulations vary based on the location of the data. Cloud vendors are responsible for implementing compliance-related policies. However, it is the customer organization that is audited for compliance. This means that organizations must have this information from all cloud integrations, and it must be transparent and clear enough for both external and internal audits. In fact, ‘data protection’ gained a lot more importance when the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) came into force in mid-2018. It was one of the many regulations passed to ensure the privacy and security of organizational data, especially from the customer’s perspective. Any company using cloud vendors is viewed as a ‘data controller’. The company is responsible for how the data is handled and not the vendor. Every data controller must ensure:
- All company data containing PII that is processed on the cloud is secure
- Data can only be transferred from the EU area to a preapproved area with similar levels of protection
- SLAs for high levels of data protection from the cloud provider
Failure to comply with these laws could result in lawsuits and hefty fines by the state. The benefits of utilizing cloud storage for backup extend beyond data protection:
- Scalability allows organizations to expand storage capabilities without additional hardware investments.
- Minimizes data loss risks from hardware failures, accidents, or cyber threats
- Automation ensures regular backups, eliminating manual effort
- Accessibility from any location aids collaboration
- Encryption enhances security, safeguarding sensitive data
- Streamlined recovery minimizes downtime, boosting business continuity
- Reduces reliance on physical storage, saving space
Cloud-Based Disaster Recovery and Automated Updates
Many businesses are implementing or switching to cloud-based disaster recovery. Here are some important reasons:
- Flexibility and reduced downtime: Cloud-based solutions offer your organization the power to run off the cloud or restore your crucial data and systems to any location. They help you get these systems back online much quicker during an IT disaster, minimizing the manual processes of traditional recovery methods.
- Reliability: Cloud-based solutions allow for frequent and non-disruptive testing of IT disaster recovery efforts. This allows organizations to test their recovery point objective and recovery time objective highly accurately, which strengthens your disaster recovery plan.
- Simplification and efficiency: You can quickly deploy cloud-based disaster recovery to all locations across an organization. The architecture works well with your broader business continuity plan, allowing users remote access to necessary systems. A cloud model offers consistency and simplified management and support.
- Ease of deployment: With cloud-based solutions, entities can leverage provider expertise and specialized knowledge. They can get started without significant investments in hardware, software, or a secondary site and without much training or adding headcount.
- Cost-effectiveness: Organizations using cloud-based disaster recovery solutions can take advantage of the common pay-as-you-grow model, aligning costs with the size and complexity of your IT disaster recovery needs. This also enables shifting costs from non-recurring (capital expense) to recurring (operational).
Real-World Examples: Cloud-Driven Data Protection Strategies
Referencing real-world examples can highlight successful cloud-driven data protection strategies. For instance, Amazon Web Services (AWS) leads in rapid recovery, minimal downtime, and safeguarding critical systems and data. Key AWS features contributing to these goals include data replication, backup, high availability, fault tolerance, automated backups, snapshots, disaster recovery tools, security measures, runbook automation, and incident response guidelines.
Read more about AWS's disaster recovery capabilities here.
Addressing Concerns and Misconceptions
Despite the advantages, concerns about public cloud security persist. The "Cloud Security Spotlight Report" revealed that 90% of organizations are moderately or very concerned about public cloud security. Identified concerns range from data breaches to insider threats. This blog aims to address these concerns and emphasize the collaborative role of cloud providers in safeguarding sensitive information.
Conclusion
IDG’s 2020 Cloud Computing Survey underscores the dominance of the cloud in IT spending. With over 75% of IT spending directed towards the cloud and 92% of organizations embracing the cloud in some capacity, the need for robust cloud data protection plans is evident. Tailoring these plans for scalability is essential to harness the fiscal, operational, and reputational benefits offered by cloud computing.
Would like to know how you can keep your data secured by leveraging cloud technologies? Reach out to us now!
