Setting The Record Straight on Five Cloud Security Myths

When it comes to cybersecurity, the cloud is one of the most misunderstood elements of the modern business stack. Otherwise intelligent business leaders seem to think that the cloud is far less secure than it actually is. Why is this? And what’s ultimately true?

What Is Cloud Computing?

To correct the record on common cloud security myths and misconceptions, we need to start on an equal playing field. That means establishing a common understanding of what cloud computing actually is. According to Microsoft’s definition, cloud computing is the delivery of computing services, including servers, storage, databases, networking, software, analytics, and intelligence, over the internet to offer faster innovation, flexible resources, and economies of scale. You typically pay only for cloud services you use, helping you lower your operating costs, run your infrastructure more efficiently, and scale as your business needs change.

That’s a pretty simple yet comprehensive definition, so we won’t try to complicate things further by rephrasing. Cloud computing is preferred over traditional, on-premises solutions because of its cost-effectiveness, scalability, high performance, reliability, and, yes, exceptional security.

What Are the Most Common Cloud Security Myths?

Now that we have a fundamental understanding of the cloud, we can address some of the significant concerns, myths, and misconceptions surrounding cloud security in the business world.

1. The Cloud Is Unsafe

For non-techies and many people outside of the cybersecurity profession, it’s difficult to imagine how storing data somewhere beyond your physical reach can be a safe method of protecting digital assets. However, if you study the actual technology behind cloud security, it becomes evident that it’s far less susceptible to being compromised or attacked than a physical server in your own building.

The top keys to securing data are to implement strong governancediligent monitoring and auditingand strict access rights. These can be deployed in a superior manner in the cloud, which makes it a much stronger ecosystem from the start.

2. The Cloud Is Easier to Attack

One myth that’s dominated the industry for years is that since the cloud is managed by cloud service providers (CSPs), it must be more susceptible to threats. But once again, this is misleading.

As Box explainsCSPs have matured their security expertise and toolsets over the years. In many cases, it has become safer to work with a CSP than to handle data security on your own. With a CSP, you benefit from regular patching, security monitoring, and additional firewalls and threat-prevention solutions.

3. Data Can’t Be Controlled in the Cloud

The notion that data can’t be controlled in the cloud is an elementary misconception. The idea that you have more control over data when it’s in a server closet down the hall versus with a cloud provider hundreds or thousands of miles away misses the entire point. Once data is placed into the cloud, it’s not only more secure, but it’s also just as accessible. Geography has nothing to do with the ability to retrieve your data.

4. Cloud Computing Is Too New to Trust

People naturally have distrust in new things, so it’s only logical that a specific segment of the marketplace pushes back against the cloud. But the truth is that the cloud isn’t as novel as most people think. Its origins stem from the 1990swhen businesses began deploying software over the internet. It’s been around for more than two decades at this point and has been maturing throughout that time.

5. Multi-Tenancy Puts Data at Risk

One concern businesses have with cloud adoption is the idea of operating within a public cloud environment. While it’s true that a public cloud is a multi-tenant environment, meaning multiple users’ data is stored on the same server, this isn’t nearly as dangerous or convoluted as it seems.

Multi-tenant environments have strict partitions and security systems to prevent anyone on the same cloud from accessing your data. They are no more or less risky than any other type of storage environment.

Adding It All Up

As confounding and nebulous as the concept may seem to the non-techie portion of the marketplace, the reality is that, when managed correctly, cloud security is far more secure than traditional on-premises solutions. And the sooner the masses realize this, the quicker we can fight back against the steep uptick in cyberattacks and ransomware.

This was shared with permission from ISACA. Author: Anna Johannson

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the cloud less secure than an on-premises server?

No. The article argues that once you look at the technology behind cloud security, it is far less susceptible to being compromised than a physical server in your own building. Strong governance, diligent monitoring and auditing, and strict access rights can all be deployed in a superior manner in the cloud.

Does using a cloud service provider make data easier to attack?

The article calls this misleading. Cloud service providers have matured their security expertise and toolsets over the years, and in many cases it has become safer to work with a CSP than to handle data security on your own. You benefit from regular patching, security monitoring, and additional firewalls and threat-prevention tools.

Do I lose control of my data in the cloud?

No. The idea that data is more controllable in a server closet down the hall than with a provider hundreds of miles away misses the point. Once data is in the cloud it is just as accessible, and geography has nothing to do with your ability to retrieve it.

Is cloud computing too new to trust?

The cloud is not as novel as most people think. Its origins go back to the 1990s, when businesses began deploying software over the internet, so it has been around and maturing for more than two decades. Pushback against it is mostly the natural distrust people have of anything that feels new.

Is multi-tenancy in a public cloud a security risk?

A public cloud is a multi-tenant environment, meaning multiple customers’ data sits on the same server, but the article says this is not as dangerous as it seems. Multi-tenant environments use strict partitions and security systems to keep other tenants away from your data, so they are no more or less risky than any other storage environment.