A staggering 85% of businesses around the world have already made the switch to cloud computing to store data and facilitate their internal processes, according to SysGroup. Businesses that have already made the switch are well aware of the benefits cloud computing brings. What they must also be aware of are the common cloud computing mistakes that put them at risk.
Here are some of the Cloud Computing Mistakes you should look at:
Moving 100% to the cloud
Having a workload on a cloud can make life easier. That’s why solutions like PBX cloud, which cover voice communications as well as data, make it tempting to just relocate all data to a cloud. The trouble is that when the cloud is attacked, it may also compromise all the sensitive data that has been stored there, says Ilia Sotnikov.
It is recommended that sensitive data be kept stored on systems that the business owner owns and controls instead of on a cloud, reserving cloud usage for less sensitive data and communications. That way, even if there was an unlikely breach, data is safe, and the business is secure.
Lacking server patching management
Another common mistake that businesses make regarding their cloud computing is that they do not sufficiently patch their servers. A survey by Orca Security found that 50% of small businesses had at least one outdated server to host their cloud.
This is because business owners tend to mistake their cloud server patch updates for general security updates. It is recommended that businesses automate their patching processes to save themselves time and avoid human error.
Not having SLAs in place
A Cloud Service Level Agreement (SLA) is the written agreement between a consumer and their provider. An SLA ensures that the client will have a full understanding of the roles and responsibilities of everyone involved with the cloud computing process. It also effectively shields a business if their current provider falls short. As penalties are clearly laid out in the SLA. It is also recommended that businesses review their SLA as they grow. As the present standards may no longer match what they need.
A good provider will be more than happy to review and create an SLA with their clients. If a business does not have one, or a provider is sketchy about it, they are opening themselves to significant risk.
Adopting cloud computing for business is smart and – in this day and age – practical. It should also be part of that practicality to ensure that there is a full understanding of what sorts of risks exist. So a business may shield their enterprise appropriately.
Making mistakes is part of business, but with a little research. Firms can learn from the mistakes of others so they don’t have to go down the same path.
