GUEST COLUMN: How to trust cloud computing?

By Helcio Beninatto, Latin America president, Unisys

As often happens with new trends, especially those hyped to be the cure for all ills, our natural reaction is first to raise questions. What's the catch? It must be too good to be true.

But what's most important is to find answers to those doubts. More questions may be raised as we embark on that journey, but we may end up being able to take better decisions as a result.

This applies not only to the world of business but also to life. Cloud computing is one of the most talked-about topics in technology. This alternative world and virtual space promises to be our best ally when storing our information. But should we store all our information in the cloud?

Typically the first question raised when considering cloud storage services is, are they secure? The potential threat of an attack on our data is ever present.

So it is important to take a series of basic steps to mitigate security risks in the cloud, from using passwords to limiting access to defining which information can be stored in the cloud according to its level of sensitivity.

Using software that is configured to our particular needs is a fundamental requirement to close any gap in the defenses.

WORKING TOWARDS A HYBRID CLOUD

While private clouds still predominate, these are not always the best solution for everybody. Gartner predicts that half of the companies that today have information hosted in private clouds will have moved to hybrid clouds by the end of 2017.

Moving to hybrid clouds can help organizations overcome key planning challenges. Having an integrated architecture in the cloud allows us to scale our information regardless of the provider so that both security and other benefits are practically guaranteed.

The issue of cost is crucial, as when a company migrates to the cloud it stops having to invest in computing equipment, training and software development. And if that wasn't enough, users tend to pay only for the resources they use.

Cloud services are increasingly more affordable for SMEs, so increased competition will result in a more level playing field for all.

But the reigning concern is privacy, so it's important to pay special attention to the privacy terms and conditions of the provider, as these often tend to be omitted. If we add a security software layer we reduce the risks of exposing our information to malware to a minimum.

Finally, we must draw on all our available resources, as well as engage in best practices, such as strengthening passwords by using a combination of upper and lower case letters and numbers, as well as avoiding re-using those passwords for other services.

Classifying information based on its importance gives us clarity on what to store and what not to store in the cloud.

To conclude, the adoption of cloud services is always done gradually. The types of application and infrastructure depends directly on the workloads of every company. Once that step is taken, it will become easier to see which stage of adoption is most appropriate for our specific brands.

DISCLAIMER: The content of this piece is entirely the responsibility of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of BNamericas. We encourage Guest Column pieces, and those interested in submitting one for possible publication should contact pnixon@bnamericas.com.