If so, I highly recommend you watch this video for a laugh. It’s true: the cloud is a trendy term to describe something that’s been around in various forms for years. 

In this case, just because it’s trendy doesn’t make it flawed, as some might have you believe. But putting all your data up there, somewhere, on the internet – your accounts, your customer files, your backups – isn’t it just asking to be hacked?

In reality, saying “if it’s on the internet, it must be less secure” is a bit glib. Look around your office right now at where your data is stored. Is it on monitored servers, in a climate-controlled facility secured by guards, or at the very least, PIN access? That’s the sort of facility in which some cloud vendors (though not all) put your data.

What are your backups like? Again, you might find some cloud vendors are way ahead of you in this department.

Threats from hackers are another risk. Recorded cases of cloud vendors exposing their customers’ data to attack do exist. But someone could also manage to get into a customer portal on your site and get hold of their names and passwords. It’s happened to plenty of high-profile businesses, even supposedly tech savvy ones, such as LinkedIn.

Here’s another reported target: the server in the back room of some businesses that processes the credit card and EFTPOS transactions.

At the end of the day, yes, there’s a risk with the cloud, as there is with other IT. The best thing you can do is get good advice, just like with any of your other IT systems. 

William Maher is editor of BIT and brand editor of PC & Tech Authority. Get free advice at www.bit.com.au/ProPrint

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