While most hybrid cloud providers offer proper handling and security of your data, it doesn't make you any less responsible for it. In fact, the privacy and security of your company's data still very much your own responsibility and you must adhere to the government and industry regulations created to secure business and personal information. In addition to having a clear conversation about the privacy and security of your data with the vendor, take up the responsibility and learn everything you need to know to ensure effective hybrid cloud data service.
There are three major privacy and security concerns related to data on the hybrid cloud that you must be aware of. These are:
- Data location
- Data control authority
- Secure transportation of data to the cloud
Experts also believe that not all data is suitable for hybrid/public clouds. Therefore, it is important for an organization to ensure that the cloud service they are using meets compliance requirement. With Netapp training, an organization can train its employees to find out if they are provided the right level of control and transparency to keep business and consumers protected.
As far as the data compliance requirements are concerned, individuals with NetApp training and certifications such as NetApp Data Protection Administration and NetApp clustered data ONTAP can better judge if the cloud service providers are adhering to Data Security Standards (PCI DSS), HIPAA, and Sarbanes-Oxley.
Getting the Max Out of a Hybrid Cloud Storage for Data Security
Hybrid solutions are becoming quite a prominent solution for business data storage. According to a report, more than 80 percent of well-established organizations are all set to take the initiative of integrating their overall data on a cloud while more than 90 percent believe that their cloud computing initiatives enabled the establishment and support of new business models.
However, considering cloud as the silver-bullet solution is not feasible, especially when it comes to the security of your data. Here's what you can do to effectively handle data and storage in the hybrid cloud:
Data Location in the Cloud
After moving data to the cloud, the service providers may take control of where it will be stored and used. There could be tons of problems you can face due to this, such as individual country laws.Data governing security laws can vary according to geographies. For instance, the legal protection laws of your country may not apply to your data if it is located outside of it. In fact, there's a risk of foreign government interference, and you can even lose your data or lose access to controlling it when you need it.
Additionally, in a hybrid cloud scenario, your data is also vulnerable to secondary or alternative uses by the service providers. If you do not have proper control or if security concerns are not put down on service-level agreements, your data can be used for marketing.
Data Control
There are three major attributes you need to focus on when it comes to keeping data under control when it has been moved to the cloud. These attributes are integrity, confidentiality, and availability. These factors do not only play a major role in management controls and auditing but are critical when the data is in the cloud.
- Integrity: To ensure the data is correct and it hasn't been altered by any means.
- Confidentiality: Parties with authorized permission can access data or alter it. This is to ensure that no theft of data takes place
- Availability: Proper control and network resources should be available to authorized users with appropriate privileges.
All three attributes define how much control you have over your data. This may also include the specified governance policies you follow for data security. The confidentiality, reliability, and integrity associated with your data should be beyond approach. This also applies to the cloud service providers.
Strategic Planning
You need to put a comprehensive plan in place to cover security factors before, during, and after the data is migrated to the cloud. Having a proactive approach, an organization will be better prepared to handle situations and unwanted scenarios.
This also calls in for a thorough detailing on the cloud service provider you are choosing. In addition to highlighting the features you need, be sure about the control and access you have on to your data for its maximum protection.
Know the Cloud
Be aware of the cloud environment you are migrating to for effective operations. Having trained employees on board makes it easier to interrogate the service provider to find out about the available features as well as to learn about what the cloud provider does to mitigate risks.
This question is important. It does not only puts you in a securer position but also keeps your mind at peace knowing that your data is in secure hands and there are proper procedures used for reporting incidents and restoring data.
Be aware of the nature of applications and data you are migrating to the hybrid cloud. This helps an organization to be completely sure of the platform choice concerning the specific requirements.
Keep Up with Transparency
This step is crucial. Your cloud service provider should be open and upfront about the prevailing risks within the industry, especially those that directly threat your stack of data. You need to know about the security of data, the emerging risks, and threats to your data, and how these will be mitigated.
Embracing transparency will give you a clear understanding of how your own and your service provider's responsibility towards your data.
Utilize All Resources
The threats to IT cannot be ignored, especially because they tend to grow with time. Fortunately, there are also just as many techniques and tools to keep your data secure and well-protected. Make sure you are utilizing all your resources to thwart potential risks and security breaches, and insist on a cloud platform that offers you robust services.
NetApp training tends to improve the employee's knowledge regarding hybrid cloud data service. This ensures the utmost protection of data and its privacy regardless of its location on the cloud. They are in better control of their business and consumer data security and effectively handle data and storage in the hybrid cloud.