Protecting Your Customer’s Data in the Cloud
Cloud storage has grown significantly in popularity over the past few years. With more cloud services popping up daily, it is imperative that cloud storage providers protect their customers’ data while it is stored in the cloud. While most startups still keep customer security in mind, some newer cloud storage services need to upgrade their security significantly to protect their customers’ data.
Remember: It Is Your Customer’s Data
What a lot of cloud services do not realize is that the data that they protect does not belong to them; it belongs to their customers. Whether that data is stored at a data center or is hosted directly on the cloud, it is the sole responsibility of the cloud service to ensure that it is protected from data loss, hijacking, security breaches and even natural disasters during storage.
Data Storage Mandates
Cloud storage is utilized by companies and individuals who are required by law to follow specific cloud storage guidelines to secure their clients’ data.
Some of these laws include:
- SOX (Sarbanes-Oxley)
- HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act)
- PCI-DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard)
- GLBA (Gramm-Leach-Bailey Act)
Not only do these govern how cloud storage should be managed, but they also state that when a cloud service allows customers to store personal identifiable information such as social security numbers, names, addresses, birth dates and account details, they must comply to federal storage regulations according to Zecurion.
Protection Methods and Options
Most cloud services offer very basic security for their clients’ storage. That being said, there are some major cloud storage providers who have high-end security services included with their storage services.
When users are looking for a cloud service provider, they are encouraged to review the security measures and partnerships designed to protect their personal data. Large corporations that are on the hunt for cloud services need to keep in mind not only the security of their customers’ data and their customers’ satisfaction with that service, but also the compliance with government regulations created specifically to protect personal identifiable information.
By KoriLynn Johnston
