End user risk plagues the rise of cloud computing

Dive Brief:

Cloud computing offers major benefits to schools, and while there are risks that have presented barriers to adoption for some, experts say there are ways to mitigate risk and still see the advantages.

EdTech: Focus on K-12 reports data breaches are a top concern, but districts can encrypt their data to offer another layer of protection. And though risks presented by end users are serious, awareness campaigns can help. Finally, targeted outreach to teachers can ensure they understand why they shouldn’t sign up for cloud-based applications on their own.

IT professionals can avoid a good deal of risk by doing their due diligence on the front end, finding out which vendors will keep data safe, private and secure and follow FERPA guidelines before entering into any contracts.

Your network, IoT, cloud computing and the future

My previous series of posts talked about a present problem for anyone deploying on the internet: what do you need to measure when deploying into the cloud and how do you measure cloud performance?

But planning and deployment issues are not restricted to just the immediate-term questions I was tackling there. Anyone in charge of a network has to think about how that network will evolve. The next articles in this series will be about the internet of the future and will suggest ways in which the internet seems likely to develop.

One of the astonishing things about the internet is that it is voluntary. With very little central organization, the internet emerges because it interconnects networks. And because of network effects, interconnecting different networks makes those networks more valuable, particularly when the network merely provides interconnection for intelligent applications at the edges of the network. This nature of the internet is what has allowed it to subsume other communications technologies.

Cloud computing: You are probably ignoring the biggest security flaw

Even if your code is hacker-proof, there's still one way into your systems and it's much tougher to patch.

There's an ongoing debate about the security implications of using cloud computing services versus running IT systems in-house.

Cloud advocates note that the largest cloud companies will have hundreds, or even thousands, of security staff and the time and money to keep their systems up to date. In contrast, the average enterprise may only have a handful of security staff to cover a wide range of different systems, many of which may be ageing and incapable of being entirely secure. However, some businesses feel more secure holding their critical data themselves rather than trusting it to a cloud company that may spread it across datacenters in different countries.

But however good the systems are, the weak link is always the humans, according to ethical hacker and penetration tester Jamie Woodruff

Apple's Mac future resides in the cloud

Absence makes the mind speculate. At least, that's the case for industry observers waiting to see what happens with Apple's overall Mac strategy this week.

My ZDNet colleague, David Gewirtz, believes that Apple's lack of innovation in Mac product releases over the last several years seems to indicate that the platform is running out of steam -- that effectively, the company has "given up" and has ceded mobile PC computing to its competitors, namely Microsoft.

I think "given up" is a bit too strong of a descriptor. I think the correct term is closer to "transitioning away from".

Apple has, since the rise of the iPhone and the iPad and the App Store ecosystem, been deriving most of its income from mobile device products, not Macs.

Cloud Security Survey: 2016 Results

In the second annual Cloud Security Survey, CloudPassage surveyed the more than 300,000 members of LinkedIn’s Information Security Community on the state of cloud security. As companies continue to invest in the cloud to reduce IT costs and increase flexibility and scalability, privacy and security of data remain top concerns.

Among the key findings include the following:

Security concerns are the number one barrier to cloud adoption. General security concerns (53%) top the list, followed by legal and regulatory compliance concerns (42%-up from 29% in last year’s survey) and data loss and leakage risks (40%).

Can data transparency be the future of outsourcing?

The benefits of storing data in the cloud are clear. However, as businesses are beginning to closely examine what having data in the cloud entails, they’re discovering that their relationships with cloud vendors are sometimes, well, cloudy.

In a 2015 Forrester Consulting survey, more than 60% of businesses said issues with transparency were stalling further expansion into the cloud. These organisations are justified in being wary, because knowing where data is going and how it is being treated is paramount.

I’ll explain why the next wave of successful cloud providers will compete on these issues rather than price, product or market.

The cloud computing effect: Better security for all

IT's paranoia about the cloud forced better security approaches to become the norm and helped on-premises deployments

Cloud computing offers lots of benefits, but improved security is not one that makes many IT lists. In fact, many -- perhaps even most -- IT pros still believe that cloud computing means a huge step backward in terms of security risk.

That doesn't seem to be the case. About 10 percent of our workloads now run on public clouds, and so far, so good.

Why? Ironically, partly because IT has been so paranoid about public clouds that it spent time and money to implement advanced security approaches such as identity and access management and to be more proactive about security measures.

Moreover, public cloud providers themselves understand the importance of security. If they get one cross-tenant hack, they are done for. Thus, providers consistently and proactively update security systems. Most enterprises would like to do the same, but they don't have the time or the budget, which leaves them comparatively more vulnerable.

Read More@ http://www.infoworld.com/article/3104547/cloud-security/the-cloud-computing-effect-better-security-for-all.html

Hybrid cloud security: What it is and best practices

A virtualized hybrid cloud infrastructure comes with the assurance of better business outcomes but the rapid transformation that accompanies cloud also leaves the infrastructure vulnerable to cyber attacks. This makes risk management critical for every enterprise. Since no two enterprises work exactly the same way, a standard risk tolerance profile cannot sustain the potential risks posed by technical hurdles.

Software-Defined Networks Promise Innovation

SDNs complement software-defined servers and storage in agile, cost-effective data centers.

Among colleges and universities that have made the move to software-defined servers and to software-defined storage, many find that a third option — software-defined networking (SDN) — fits right in. The virtualization of these three pillars of the IT function into a software-defined data center (SDDC) offers high yield for less cost, making it a promising solution — think more agile, more efficient and cost-effective.

Indeed, as traditional networks have grown more complex, they risk becoming more hindrance than help. SDNs empower IT staff with the same agility they find in virtualization, offering big shortcuts in the amount of time it takes to deliver services. Software updates replace manual configuration of hardware components. Staff also benefit from the increased control of centralized network management. What’s more, SDNs provide these advantages at a lower cost than traditional networks, thanks to increased automation and reduced equipment costs.

Why Canadian businesses are turning to cloud-based data storage

Rogers Communcations SVP Charlie Wade talks about the climbing cost of storing your own data—and why borders still matter

Small to mid-sized businesses across Canada are faced with a problem—they’re collecting more data than ever before, and they need somewhere to store it. While many have their own in-house servers to do the job, these can require frequent maintenance, and, consequently, plenty of cash. To cut down on those costs, companies are increasingly turning to cloud-based data storage. Amazon Web Services was a pioneer in such low-cost data warehousing and remains one of the biggest providers, but for a variety of reasons—whether because companies want additional technical support or because regulations require them to store their data within Canada’s borders—many are looking around for other options. Rogers Communications (which owns Canadian Business) unveiled a new one today— the Rogers Public Cloud. We asked the company’s SVP of products and solutions, Charlie Wade, what Canadian companies are looking for from their cloud-computing providers now:

2016 set to be a defining year for the cloud

The results are in and it seems at its half way point, 2016 has been a defining year for cloud.

According to the 2016 Cloud Adoption Survey by Extreme Networks, private cloud is giving way to hybrid cloud - nearly half of large enterprises will go hybrid by the end of next year.

Microsoft And IBM In The Cloud

Summary

• Endless possibilities available for the cloud.
• Cloud revenue of $127.5 billion expected by 2018.
• Microsoft’s LinkedIn acquisition will increase content availability and user connectivity.
• IBM’s VMware partnership also building desktop application solutions.

Cloud computing has been evolving since the 1990s when the internet was first commercialized. Since then individuals and businesses have become increasingly reliant upon it for everyday personal and work activities. It's a capability that allows stored data to be accessed virtually anywhere through the internet. As a result of its convenience and lower cost, more and more companies in today's business environment are evolving their technological infrastructures from servers to the cloud.

Google says welcome to the Cloud 2.0

Now that enterprises are in the cloud, they want to analyze that data

Enterprises' initial entrance into the cloud is over and they witnessing the arrival of the Cloud 2.0. That's the word from Diane Greene, senior vice president for Google's cloud businesses.

The first phase of the cloud involved testing the waters, figuring out how companies could save time and in-house effort by having apps and services run in the cloud and using the cloud to store data. The top concerns were security and reliability.

Nextbit Robin Review: This cloud has no silver lining

Nowadays, smartphones come in different storage variants, and many with no expandable storage option either. More often than not the only solution is to shell out more money to buy a higher storage variant. Even I had to settle for a 16GB model of the iPhone 6, because the higher storage variants were beyond my budget. Another workaround involves buying a lower storage variant, and back up your content on cloud services like Google Drive, OneDrive or iCloud in case of an iPhone. But what if a smartphone is able to automatically back up your data, and even your apps when your internal storage runs out? US-based Nextbit is trying to deliver this through its first smartphone, Robin.

Market Research Suggests World Cloud Security Market will reach $8.9B by 2020

Allied Market Research has just released a new report that states the Worldwide Cloud Security Market will reach $8.9B by 2020.

The report, which is entitled “World Cloud Security, Market Opportunities and Forecasts 2014-2020” says that the cloud security market will grow at a compound adjusted growth rate of 23.5% from 2015 to 2020. While North America will be the global leader, market opportunities in Asia and the Pacific Rim will give rise to the demand for cloud security services.

BYOD and other emerging technologies will be the main driver in businesses wanting to expand their cloud security platforms. Allied says that governments, retail, IT, telecom and others will drive cloud security innovations.

Given the worldwide appetite for cloud, it’s no surprise that cloud security solutions will work in tandem with the emerging cloud application ecosystems. Businesses are tasked with keeping their critical services secure, while simultaneously providing ease of use. This balancing act will fuel cloud security innovations in the coming years. Allied predicts that these companies will become the leaders in cloud security technology:

• Symantec Corporation
• Intel Corporation
• Hewlett Packard (HP) Company
• Cisco Systems, Inc.
• IBM Corporation
• Microsoft Corporation
• Kaspersky Labs
• Dell Inc.

“Favorable regulations and policies along with proactive e-commerce & e-governance initiatives have fostered the growth of the world cloud security market,” says Allied Market Research’s press release on the report.

Read More: http://www.cloudwedge.com/market-research-suggests-world-cloud-security-market-will-reach-8-9b-by-2020-290335/

Cloud Computing Benefits Financial Sector

By embracing cloud computing services, companies in the financial sector are able to add efficiency to their operations.

Cloud computing is one of the rising areas in which IT services are being offered to businesses as a commodity. A cloud computing contract incorporates services for different software and applications, as well as the processing and storage of data. These services help clients enhance the efficiency of their work processes and make it possible for clients to respond to and counter issues swiftly, resulting in increased customer satisfaction.

Finance Opts For Hybrid Cloud

Cloud computing is prevailing in many domains but still hasn’t fully entered the financial sector because of concerns about the security and control of data.

Confidence in cloud security

We look at how certifications and audits boost confidence in cloud security

Cloud has reached a tipping point, with more businesses now confident about putting their information online. Even executives who used to be hesitant about going 'on-demand' are beginning to believe in the strengths of the cloud.

As many as 64.9% of IT leaders think the cloud is as secure or more secure than traditional on-premise software, according to the Cloud Security Alliance. The main providers play a key role in boosting confidence, helping to reassure IT and business leaders that sensitive data is safe and secure online.

Suppliers are taking crucial steps to beef up their security and help deliver compliance the business can rely on. The key here is independent certifications and third party audits from a variety of accredited organisations.

Security is Still Your Responsibility in the Cloud

Over the next 14 months, 80 percent of IT budgets at organizations throughout the U.S. will go to cloud computing services, according to a new global study from Intel Security. As sensitive data is moved to the cloud, it is becoming more obvious that the cloud still has its risks. According to the study, only 13 percent of IT security professionals completely trust public cloud providers to secure sensitive data, and 66 percent of them believe senior management does not completely understand the risks of storing sensitive data in the cloud.

Will Cloud Kill The IT Star?

It’s a question I hear often when speaking with companies across the globe: Does cloud computing spell the demise of the CIO and IT department?

The short answer: No. The longer, more complicated answer: The cloud will force IT leaders and their organizations to fundamentally change what they do (and don’t do), how they work with other departments, and what skills they bring to the table. The upside is tremendous for those who adapt; the downside is perilous for those who don’t.

Cloud Security Challenges

Large organizations are embracing public and private cloud computing at a rapid pace. According to ESG research, one-third of organizations have been using public and private cloud infrastructure for more than three years, and more than half of organizations (57%) have production workloads running on cloud computing infrastructure (note: I am an ESG employee).

Of course, cloud computing is very different than physical or virtual servers, which translates into a different cybersecurity model as well. And these differences lead to a variety of security challenges.