Many businesses today are familiar with the benefits cloud computing offers over a traditional in house IT departments. But as the popularity of this new alternative expands, questions regarding its security are being raised. Is cloud computing as secure as having your data network in house?

 Data in Cloud Computing is Centralized

 Unlike traditional networks which leave documents and other information data spread randomly amongst employee work stations, data inside the cloud is centralized. Because cloud computing providers are typically held to much higher standards than in house IT security teams, this generally means the data is safer than on your own network. This data is accessed only via web browsers which can be set to clear their cache every time they are closed.

 Take this in comparison to distributing an email, for example: The email with attachment is distributed to numerous employees who are expected to use the information appropriately then discard or resend it. In the case of cloud computing – no data would be sent to the employees. They would be able to log on to one central location, view the data, make any changes they needed to collaboratively, then log out – all without actually downloading the information.

 Cloud Computing Security Concerns are Cultural, not Factual

 To date, there has been no major violations of cloud security. Take that in comparison to private networks, in which there are multiple stories every week of breached data or stolen client machines.

 Most of the current concern for security in a cloud computing setup arises from cultural norms. People are used to thinking that something in their possession is more secure than if it is out in the open. While that seems like common sense, it simply isn’t true. All connected networks are ‘out in the open’. Cloud computing simply gives fewer chances to access that data by its very design.

 Initiatives to Improve Cloud Computing Security

 Because cloud computing is still relatively new in comparison to traditional in house IT departments, there does tend to be a lack of standardization on security issues. Many companies are beginning to contribute to security initiatives, however, including Hewlett Packard, IBM,  Novell, Qualys, Symantec, Zscaler, and others.

 By its very design and through the use of normal security measures such as encryption, cloud computing security really isn’t a barrier to entry any longer. In most tests it proves to be just as secure if not more so than conventional in house data networks. As time progresses, the many benefits inherent to cloud computing will ensure that it remains the focus of the IT security industry.