Techblog
How can SMEs protect their data by using the Cloud?
No matter the size of the business, the trend today is to store business and customer data in the cloud. From an operational point of view, it makes daily activities more efficient and secure.
In the past, businesses generally stored their business data on servers located within their offices. When cloud technology came along, applications and data storage started to move off-site into large data centres operated by service providers. These data centres were designed to securely store, and protect, the information of many businesses and individuals.
The worry for businesses was that storing data on the cloud meant that it could be vulnerable to attacks and be stolen. Additionally, many of the security and storage applications that were initially released were viewed as cumbersome and expensive.
As the cost and security of cloud applications and storage improved, even SMEs are finding it a more efficient and manageable way to apply their computer resource. SMEs generally leverage the cloud for two key functions in their daily IT operations - data storage and running applications.
Data storage or backup in the cloud
Cloud data backup, which is one of the hottest tech trends today, involves storing a copy of your data with a service provider that keeps your information securely stored on a server.
Having a copy of your data backup on the cloud is a prudent method to ensuring there is always a secured copy of your business critical data available, even when your localised data is compromised by hackers or other attacks, such as the ransomware attacks in recent months.
Cloud data back-up offers several advantages for SMEs, including:
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ease of access to information,
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scalability or elasticity, and
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easy storage backup and recovery.
IT operations in the cloud
Apart from data storage, running other parts of your IT operations on the cloud can help small businesses protect its data. There are different types of cloud applications that SMEs can consider:
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Software as a Service (SaaS) may be the most familiar type. It refers to cloud-based software where businesses pay a subscription and run business applications on the cloud. One of the most common SaaS you'd have experienced would be email services or productivity solutions like Microsoft Office 365.
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Platform as a Service (PaaS) and Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) are more complex. It refers to the “renting” of application platforms or infrastructure where businesses can build their IT services upon.
While business may still be nervous about storing their business critical data in the cloud, there are many safeguards to ensure the information is safe. Most cloud providers have secure systems and certified data centres that protect your sensitive information.
Using the cloud to protect your business
Running your business operations on the cloud not only streamlines activities but can also help keep your business critical data safe.
Singtel myBusiness offers many SaaS products that help your business functions and data backups run smarter and safer on the cloud. Exclusive support and product specialist assistance ensures that moving your operations to the cloud is possible, even with no technical knowledge.
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Small businesses need to evolve from traditional in-house information systems to joining the cloud for better data storage solutions.
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Migrating to cloud solutions becomes more cost-effective and secure with the right third-party service providers.
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The cloud service solutions are scalable to needs, with three service solution models to choose from – SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS.
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Security issues with data should be managed both by choosing the right service provider to engage and at the company’s end by keeping in-house programs updated.