How do you Safeguard your Data in the Cloud?

Encryption

One key deterrent to hacking is encryption. Encrypting data in the cloud prevents hackers - and even cloud computing service providers - from stealing your data. Encrypting data means it becomes unusable without the tools to decrypt it, and that means forfeiting usability for security - accessing data can be slow as tools decrypt information to make it readable. While 'encryption' might be the IT department's mantra, any company's emphasis will be how to use data to support business processes. Fortunately, to ensure cloud security leaves data usable, a number of "format-preserving" encryption solutions have emerged. Where traditional solutions changed data into ciphertext of a variety of different lengths, format-preserving encryption keeps the same number of digits, making transformation more immediate. 

Although encrypted data might be safe, and can be transformed quickly, it is still difficult to manipulate. Again cloud solutions have emerged that allow companies to partially encrypt data, leaving certain non-sensitive fields free of encryption for manipulation purposes. 

Data Loss Prevention (DLP) Tools

As with any form of data storage, internal threats are as potent as external threats. Data Loss Prevention (or DLP) tools (also called Extrusion Prevention, Data Leak Prevention, and Information Loss Prevention tools) work on a set of rules established by a business. They look at file content and based on the rules a business establishes, tag critical information to stop system users from disclosing it. DLP tools can filter both streams of data on corporate networks and protect data that isn't being used - or "Data at Rest".

Hybrid Cloud Solutions

Hybrid Cloud Solutions have emerged - solutions that bridge more traditional approaches to hosting with the cloud. Hybrid Cloud Solutions do mean a company maintaining its own IT capability - albeit a scaled down capability - but as some people say, if there is any doubt, there is no doubt, and as a result, perhaps you need to be responsible for the security of your most sensitive data. 

Common Sense

The bottom line is not always a financial consideration. The same common sense that you applied to managing your onsite data should be applied to the cloud. 

Despite its benefits, the cloud is still using the same security measures utilised by traditional hosting - passwords. The same security measures your company employed to safeguard data held by your own servers should be employed for data in the cloud, because the cloud is just another tool like your server was. 

Everything should be backed up regularly - onto a local server, to a server in another geographical location, to another server in the cloud. Passwords should be changed regularly. Two-factor authentication should be used wherever possible. Make sure that security question answers are secure and access limited to the people who need to know that information. 

Know Your Provider

Although the cloud might come across as ubiquitous and might be promoted as almost a commodity item, it is merely a network of providers, and not all providers are equal. Do not be enticed by the cloud over readily - do your homework. This directs us to VpsCity and the security avenues taken to safeguard all data.

Where Does VpsCity Store My Data

Your data is stored in separate data centres in the New Zealand and we use multiple drive arrays to ensure your data is never lost and available to you at all times whilst keeping it secure and fast to access.

How Secure Is This Cloud Storage Service?

These services use encryption technology identical to that used by banks to maintain the privacy and security of your files and information, making them as secure as possible.

Included Features

Automatic Sync

Services with this feature will update your files to reflect any edits you make in real time.

File and Folder Permissions

Only users provisioned by the administrator, with active passwords, can access their account.

Backup SQL Server, cPanel & Microsoft Exchange

You can backup your cPanel, mysql server, MS SQL server & microsoft exchange data to our Idera Cloud backup server.

Bare-Metal Recovery

We use Bare-metal recovery technique in the field of data recovery and restoration.

FTP Access & Subfolder Permission

Subfolder permissions support for CIFS/SMB, AFP, FTP, and File Station.

24x7x365 Support

All storage servers are monitored 24x7 and immediate action is taken if a problem is detected.

Secure System

A secure and reliable system to back up your essential files.

Remote Server

Files stored in the cloud can be retrieved remotely.

Data Security

An affordable way of protecting important data.

Mobility

Provides mobility in the workflow of a company or business.

Online Backups & Archiving

An assurance of restoration of data from any unwanted failure or data loss from archive system.

Accessible

Files are accessible from anywhere.

The VpsCity Advantage

Finding a partner to trust with your enterprise IT functions isn’t easy. We’ve been securing enterprise-level networks and infrastructure for many years now and have built a solid foundation of success. Our visibility across a large amount of the world’s internet traffic gives us an advantage in putting near real-time intelligence to work for you. We’re not just any experts. We’re the ones you’ve been looking for.

Whereas the Internet has grown up and is heading towards adulthood, the cloud is still merely a toddler, and challenges do exist.

The cloud has been driven by cost-sensitive smaller organisations with limited budgets. Unlike traditional providers, cloud providers haven't been driven towards comprehensive customer service. If you delete the wrong folder, or misplace a file in the cloud, who do you call? As public clouds entice more and more enterprise-level customers, customer service is bound to improve. VpsCity has however bridged the gap, providing world-class service and support to all customers.

Although the level of data lost in the cloud is minuscule in comparison to amount stored, that is of little comfort to the people whose data has been lost. And there are occasions when data loss is substantially more than the odd lost folder.

Alongside the promise of the cloud, there are then issues that need addressing. 

Since the cloud has been released, momentum towards the product has become unstoppable. The promise of cost-effective services and data storage has proven too appealing to organisations and enterprises looking to make every IT dollar count. But alongside a recognition of the potential benefits of the cloud, there has been a realisation that adopting the cloud means putting your faith in a third-party to keep your precious data safe and sound. But is the cloud really a safe place for your company's data?

The answer to this question depends on emphasis. Even prior to the Internet people would often freely exchange data entrusting third-parties like utility companies with sensitive information, often barely considering what potential harm this might do. Credit card companies and banks existed before the Internet, and submitting your details to either meant that information about you and your company might often be shared by post or fax. Bearing in mind that most organisations conduct international business, this means your information was probably shared on an international basis.

The advent of the Internet stoked fears that data stored or transmitted through 'cyberspace' could get into the wrong hands. But as with the post and fax, the Internet was simply another means of moving information around the globe more efficiently. Internet regulation has meant the development and adoption of solutions that safeguard data. To the extent that the cloud is merely another means of delivering the Internet, the cloud should be equally as secure as the Internet has become. However, with that in mind, we can also assume that issues that impact the Internet - hacking for instance - are equally as likely to occur in the cloud.

How do you Safeguard your Data in the Cloud?

Of course, one of the principal fears that people might have regarding storing data in the cloud is that it might be hacked. Hacking issues are unlikely to be more prevalent in the cloud than with 'in house' servers connected to the Internet - if someone wants your data, they will of course go after it, wherever it is.