Cloud computing is a popular and cost-effective way to store and access data and applications over the internet. However, it also comes with some risks that can affect your IT strategy and performance. In this article, we will discuss some of the common risks of cloud computing and how you can mitigate them.
One of the main concerns of cloud computing is data security. When you store your data in the cloud, you rely on the provider to protect it from unauthorized access, breaches, or loss. However, no system is foolproof, and cyberattacks are becoming more sophisticated and frequent. To reduce the risk of data security, you should choose a reputable and trustworthy provider, encrypt your data, use strong passwords and authentication methods, and backup your data regularly.
PLEASE ENSURE A REALLY GOOD SECURITY TRUSTED PROVIDER AND A SAVVY OWNER! The reason? $$$$$$$ Examples Meta (fined $277M), Home Depot ($56M), Sony ($100M spent on cleanup)... Reasons vary: Meta for user data leak, Home Depot due to hackers, Sony lost 100TB of data! The coincidence? POOR DATA SECURITY! That means strong access controls, encryption, regular audits, solid backup plans, employee training on best practices, etc (providers can help you with the techy stuff). For some businesses, cloud is a MUST, but only if security is taken seriously... Learn from others mistakes...
data security is a paramount concern, but let's not overlook the human element in the equation. Often, the weakest link in data security isn't the technology but the people using it. Employee training on best practices for data security can be just as crucial as selecting a top-tier cloud provider. . Moreover, consider the regulatory landscape. Different industries have specific compliance requirements, like HIPAA in healthcare or GDPR in Europe. Lastly, don't underestimate the power of a good audit. Regularly reviewing access logs and conducting vulnerability assessments can provide an additional layer of security. It's like having a security camera; just its presence can be a deterrent to potential internal and external threats.
How do backup become meaningful if the cloud storage itself is the IT strategy for system backup. For smaller firms and startups is it viable bearing the cost of redundancy (i.e. having to backup again apart from the cloud). I need more insight on this.
Security is a big concern. This means that cloud administrators need to also have knowledge in security Incorporating high security measures comes at a cost and that needs planning. The whole activity diverts the whole Strategy to focus cost saving measures.
Another risk of cloud computing is data privacy. When you use the cloud, you may have to comply with different laws and regulations regarding the collection, storage, and use of personal or sensitive data. For example, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the EU imposes strict rules on how data can be transferred and processed across borders. To avoid the risk of data privacy, you should understand the legal and ethical implications of cloud computing, review the provider's privacy policy and terms of service, and obtain consent from your customers and users.
Data privacy is a major consideration. You need to know where your data is stored. Particularly given the difference in access control legislation that is defined by GDPR, European law and US law, for example. So, it is best to ensure your data if generated in eth UK/ EU be stored in regional datacentres and is not distributed to any other geographically located (outside of the UK/ EU) storage datacentre, etc.
Data privacy is a labyrinth of complexities, especially when you're operating in multiple jurisdictions. But let's zoom out for a moment and consider the customer's perspective. In today's digital age, consumers are becoming increasingly savvy about their data rights. A single privacy mishap can severely damage your brand's reputation, sometimes irreversibly. For instance, consider the case where a cloud provider stores your European customer data in a data center located in a country with lax data protection laws. This could not only result in hefty fines but also erode customer trust. Lastly, consider implementing Data Loss Prevention (DLP) tools that can identify and control data transfer, adding an extra layer of security.
A third risk of cloud computing is data availability. When you depend on the cloud, you also depend on the provider's uptime, reliability, and performance. If the provider experiences downtime, outages, or slow response, you may lose access to your data and applications, which can affect your productivity and customer satisfaction. To minimize the risk of data availability, you should monitor the provider's service level agreement (SLA), have a contingency plan in case of emergencies, and diversify your cloud services across multiple providers or regions.
Data availability is a critical concern, but let's delve into the real-world implications of this. Imagine you're a retailer running a big online sale. If your cloud provider faces an outage even for a few minutes, the ripple effect on your revenue and customer experience can be catastrophic. Now, let's talk about the "eggs in multiple baskets" strategy. While diversifying across multiple cloud providers or regions sounds like a good idea, it comes with its own set of challenges—like increased complexity in data management and potential compliance issues. In essence, ensuring data availability is not just a technical requirement but a comprehensive strategy that involves planning, human resources, and customer relations.
A fourth risk of cloud computing is data portability. When you migrate your data and applications to the cloud, you may face compatibility issues, vendor lock-in, or technical challenges. For example, if you want to switch to a different provider or platform, you may have to convert your data formats, reconfigure your settings, or rewrite your code. To overcome the risk of data portability, you should evaluate your business needs and objectives, compare different cloud options and features, and use standard and open formats and protocols.
Data portability, i.e. stored in a location that can be accessed from virtually anywhere is a positive. Though the access controls to enable such access need to be made secure. To minimise the risk of unauthorised access. This includes the ability to download/ locally store data, from the cloud, etc.
Data portability is a silent issue until you're stuck in a migration mess. Imagine you're a healthcare provider with years of patient data in a cloud service. Switching providers could mean wrestling with proprietary formats, risking data integrity. Always have an "exit strategy" before entering a cloud agreement. Know the costs and complexities of data retrieval and format conversion. According to Vanson Bourne, 38% of businesses delay cloud deployment due to migration complexities. Open standards and APIs can ease this, allowing for a multi-cloud strategy that reduces vendor dependency. Plan for portability from day one.
A fifth risk of cloud computing is data governance. When you use the cloud, you may lose some control and visibility over your data and applications. For example, you may not know where your data is stored, who has access to it, or how it is managed. This can create challenges for compliance, audit, and quality assurance. To address the risk of data governance, you should establish clear roles and responsibilities, implement policies and procedures, and use tools and metrics to monitor and audit your cloud activities.
Data governance in the cloud isn't just an IT concern; it's a business imperative. The cloud's distributed nature can make it difficult to track data lineage, a critical factor for compliance with regulations like Sarbanes-Oxley or HIPAA. According to a Gartner report, through 2023, 65% of organizations will fail to implement data governance, leading to data mismanagement and compliance fines. So, what's the solution? Adopt a Cloud Data Governance Framework that aligns with your business objectives. Use cloud management platforms that offer built-in governance tools for real-time monitoring and auditing. Make governance a shared responsibility.
A sixth risk of cloud computing is data costs. When you use the cloud, you may benefit from lower upfront and operational costs, but you may also incur hidden or unexpected costs. For example, you may have to pay for additional services, features, or resources, such as bandwidth, storage, or processing. You may also have to deal with fluctuating or unpredictable demand, which can affect your budget and planning. To manage the risk of data costs, you should analyze your usage and consumption patterns, optimize your cloud resources and efficiency, and negotiate your pricing and contract terms.
Not only the costs of accessing your data. But in most cases in infective implementation of cloud hosting. A good strategy is to have cloud ready workloads. Before you start to spin up servers, consider your microservices architecture and how you can best leverage cloud native services to supplement your workloads. Reducing operational and support costs is equally as important as factoring in data costs. Whilst one may rise the others can fall, if the cloud is adopted responsibly, and not just lifting and shifting into the cloud.
Data costs in the cloud can be a double-edged sword. While the pay-as-you-go model offers flexibility, it can also lead to "cloud sprawl," where services are spun up and forgotten, racking up costs. According to a report by Flexera, 30% of cloud spend is wasted due to inefficient resource utilization. To mitigate this, implement a Cloud Financial Management strategy that goes beyond just tracking expenses. Use cloud cost management tools that provide real-time analytics and predictive modeling. These tools can alert you to cost spikes and suggest optimization strategies. Additionally, consider adopting a 'FinOps' approach, which brings finance and operations teams together to manage cloud costs effectively.
O maior risco é n?o planejar... "vou pra nuvem porque tá na moda"... se você n?o fizer um belo projeto de jornada para a nuvem (ou contratar alguém que o fa?a) o risco de naufrágio é enorme: vai ficar anos executando o "plano" e vai acabar migrando meia dúzia de VMs... vai gastar um monte de dinheiro (e cada ajuste de rota, mais dinheiro)... e no final vai concluir que "a nuvem é muito cara" (e vai come?ar a trazer workloads de volta para o on-premise). Gaste um bom tempo com o desenho da solu??o, garanto que n?o vai se arrepender.
Key considerations around using cloud data storage is who is responsible and how will the data be backed up, what resilience processes are in place, who/ how disaster recovery processes (if required) will be implemented. Moving applications and services to the cloud can significantly change the security, management (patching, anti-virus protection, monitoring, backup and restoration processes, etc.), that are applied. So as part of any move to the cloud formal and clear bounds of ownership of the management, maintenance, etc., processes applied to the could infrastructure need to be defined and (continually) ratified.
PLEASE DON'T TRANSFER YOUR ON-PREMISES STUFF TO CLOUD WITHOUT ARCHITECTURE STRATEGY! I've seem this happening in different companies, with AWS and Azure. It wasn't an isolated case. They just copied-pasted existing systems to cloud, without using cloud features. No auto scaling, serverless etc... kepted outdated legacy. They were with the same support efforts+ plus the Cloud provider costs.... AVOID THIS!