Many business owners are cautious about moving to the cloud, worried it might not be secure. This concern usually comes from misunderstandings about what the ‘cloud’ really is and the way stories about cyber incidents in the cloud are reported.
Let’s clear things up: the cloud is simply a term for IT systems you use over the internet. It can range from highly secure, multi-million-dollar data centers watched over 24/7, to a small online store run from an outdated server in someone’s garage.
When you hear about ‘the cloud’ being hacked, it’s often not the cloud itself, but rather someone’s account within the cloud. Imagine a bank equipped with state-of-the-art security systems, yet someone manages to steal a key and access a safety deposit box. The bank’s security isn’t the issue; it’s about making sure the keys (in this case, passwords and access controls) are well-protected.
Your data is typically much safer with cloud services than on your own in-house servers. Why? Your business might have a couple of servers and maybe a firewall, with limited monitoring. On the other hand, reputable cloud services use multiple data centers with extensive security measures, including numerous servers and firewalls, all monitored by teams of security experts. This level of security and oversight is hard to match with on-premises setups, especially for small to medium-sized businesses.