Cloud computing. The one-way ticket for easier online storage and convenient access to files. That seems to be the best of both worlds, right? With the ability to send all these files off your computer and up, or on the web, you are now leaving your documents confidential in the hands of a third-party cloud service provider. Basically, it’s the same as giving all your sensitive data and controlling content to a stranger. Now, that does not seem so inviting.
Recently, Apple’s co-founder Steve Wozniak predicted “horrible problems” with the future of cloud computing. “I’m really worried about going to the cloud,” he says. “I think it’s going to be horrible, I think there are going to be a lot of horrible problems in the next five years.”
Although the “horrendous problems” Wozniak is not talking about directly, I think it is safe to say that these issues are about the privacy and security issues of keeping confidential data on a cloud. With the additional layer of virtualization embedded in online storage, data transfer, and so on, there is a huge potential risk that the stored information will be compromised if the proper security measures are not taken. This obviously includes the accessibility of your information to hackers in addition to data leaks between customers in the cloud.
So, who is responsible for the security of your content? In fact, it’s a two-way street. Security responsibilities include the duty of the cloud service provider to ensure that all of their customers’ data is fully secure in their cloud. It is also the responsibility of the user to ensure that their cloud provider takes all necessary steps to protect their data. Some companies even claim that they are not responsible for the data they process. Wonderful. It reminds me a bit of when you put your stuff in a huge storage compartment before riding on a roller coaster at the amusement park. And all the time you hope, with so many items coming in and out of this box, everyone only takes what belongs to them. “Oh, and by the way, we are not responsible for lost or stolen items, we just provide the storage compartment.” Perfect.
Another important security factor that Wozniak talked about is the inability to control any aspect of your data. “With the cloud, you do not own anything, you’ve already signed it, I want to feel like I have things, a lot of people are saying,” Oh, everything is really on my computer, “but I say the most we transfer everything on the web, in the cloud, the less we will have control. ”
It’s a pretty bold statement. I mean, you transfer your data to another person or entity and you end up having no idea where they are stored or who is managing them. You lose property, according to Wozniak. And with the recent security breach of Dropbox, the possibility of your data being picked up by an unauthorized person increases dramatically. Without the complete ownership of your data, the only thing to do is ask your cloud service provider about how it meets security standards and create an incredibly powerful password.