Keeping your data secure in the Cloud
By Zach Dickson
The term “The Cloud” is bandied around so much now it is hard to pinpoint exactly what the cloud can do for you and your business. Amongst all the remote working opportunities, cloud based phone systems and “aaS” (as a Service) options, one of the most basic functions is storing files in the cloud instead of on your local laptop or pc.
There are many companies offering this type of service with Dropbox, Google Drive & iCloud among some of the best-known consumer grade options. While these services are great for storing pictures of your cat, your holiday itinerary or a shopping list for a loved one at Christmas, they are not suitable for businesses looking to store their data in the cloud.
There are several reasons for this, but the most important one to highlight is security. Data is one of the most valuable types of currency a business can own, whether it be the intellectual property of that business, sales figures, or even the addresses of their most valuable assets, their employees.
While consumer grade cloud storage services offer a basic layer of protection, it is nowhere near enough for commercial entities. You wouldn’t trust your hard-earned cash in a box sitting on a desk in a bank, you would want it to be in their vault ready for when you want to treat yourself. Your data is no different; you want it to be as secure as possible, while being able to access it whenever you may need it.
When choosing a provider to host your data on their cloud file storage platform, the first questions you should be asking is what level of security they have in place to look after your data. If it is anything less than banking grade levels of encryption & security, you should run and not look back!
Another thing to consider is where they store your data. Is it even in the same country as your business operates in and should that matter to you? In a nutshell, yes it should. Data sovereignty relates to the laws of the country that data resides in. For example, if your data is held in America, your data falls under American legislation which means the American government can access that data without a warrant whenever it chooses!
So, when choosing where and with whom to store your precious data, take a few minutes to assess where a company is keeping your data, and how seriously they take protecting it once they have it.
If you are a New Zealand based company and want to keep your data safe and secure within Aotearoa and under New Zealand legal jurisdiction, contact Lucidity today to talk about ‘MyFiles‘.
Zach Dickson
