Without question, the single largest concern of clients and consumers when it comes to Cloud computing is security. The concern is valid and understandable. With a name like the Cloud, thoughts of fluffy and wispy infrastructures seep into clients’ minds. However, although the phrase Cloud Computing doesn’t impart the visual solace of a fortress of steel, Cloud providers pride themselves on supplying the market with the most stringent of security measures.
Let’s discuss a few of those Cloud computing security aspects here.
Private Cloud Architecture
In terms of Cloud computing service delivery models, the Cloud is made up of a public Cloud solution, a private Cloud architecture and a blend of both called hybrid Cloud. As the name suggests, the private Cloud solution is the most secure solution for clients and businesses looking for a rock solid managed data center infrastructure, which allows for instant access to company data from any location on Earth.
Through supplying clients with encrypted firewalls (managed and unmanaged), private Cloud architectures allow consumers and businesses to store and access critical data behind high end firewalls.
With data stored behind corporate Cloud managed or unmanaged firewalls, companies and consumers need a secure avenue to access said data. That avenue is a VPN.
Private Cloud Access through VPN
A VPN, or virtual private network, enables clients and consumers to access private Cloud data while outside of the private Cloud network. Without getting too deep into the weeds, a VPN acts as an encrypted packet tunnel utilizing public lines. For example, if a traveling employee needs to access vital corporate data, a VPN allows the employee to open an encrypted tunnel over public leased lines to access said data. By encrypting the VPN, sometimes called “encrypted tunneling protocols”, at both ends, the client can access vital and sensitive corporate data without having to worry about that data leaking to the outside world.
Data Security through Replication
While it isn’t traditionally thought of as security, data replication within private Cloud deployments is just as important to Cloud security as managed firewalls and VPNs are. For the client investing money in private Cloud architectures, providers host those private Clouds within owned or leased data center facilities. In most cases, those Cloud data center facilities have redundant power and cooling equipment on hand to prevent solution downtime. However, this doesn’t mean a data center can’t experience downtime.
In the case of data center downtime as a result of a natural disaster, your private Cloud provider has the ability to replicate your critical business data to another data center that they operate out of in an auxiliary capacity. With instant data replication to another data center facility located the world away; your data stays secure and accessible.
Public Cloud Security for Corporations
As alluded to earlier, the other two options in the Cloud are a pubic or hybrid deployment, while the hybrid offers the security of a private Cloud deployment for business critical solutions and data, the public Cloud isn’t as secure. For this reason, companies and consumers who choose to utilize a public Cloud infrastructure need to do so lightly. Using the public Cloud for less critical and less sensitive data is alright (a.k.a. using Gmail for personal messages), however don’t count on a public Cloud infrastructure to provide you with rock solid security.
All said, if you are looking for the best security practices within the Cloud, opt for a private deployment over a public architecture.