Private cloud is cyber security silver lining
Company bosses must give security the same attention as the P & L sheet
The recent migration to the cloud has led to numerous security problems across the globe, a recent example being the HSE ransomware attack in May which compromised thousands of patients’ medical treatments and personal data.
Over the last 10 years, companies have been guided towards cloud computing with the promise of cheaper solutions, less maintenance, lower electricity usage, no up-front costs and a raft of other supposed benefits. The vast majority of this storage is ‘public cloud’. Billions of servers in the cloud are public-facing, and therefore it has a massive attack surface. This has led to the current surge in security breaches.
Private cloud infrastructure offer companies greater control over their security and data storage. Public cloud solutions can never be fully secure as it can be accesses by the public and therefor vulnerable to attack.
According to Andrew Tobin, CEO Carlow based private cloud company, Stryve said,
“Many SMEs simply did not appreciate the level of risk their current infrastructure exposed them to. The HSE attack has opened their eyes. We are now on the cusp of the next big wave in the move to private cloud which offers companies greater control over their data and peace of mind that it is safe. Owning our own private cloud means Stryve can guarantee data sovereignty.”
A simultaneous move towards a centralised systems in the workplace, where servers are talking to each other, has led to further challenges – if one gets compromised, it can have a knock-on effect, as seen in the HSE attack.
These two seismic shifts have been further exacerbated by the Pandemic when working from home is the norm. ‘Grey lines’ have emerged between personal and work devices. Personal phones, laptops, emails, etc. are more commonly used for both work and personal life open them up further to vulnerabilities.
All of this forms an ideal environment for cyberattacks. One wrong move and bad actors can gain access to the data according to Andrew Tobin, CEO of a private cloud and cybersecurity company, Stryve.
Andrew says,
“The next iteration of cloud computing is private. We have witnessed an evolution in cloud storage in the last decade and now companies are moving towards private cloud. Companies don’t want servers in their offices. Connectivity for remote working is an issue and companies no longer trust the public cloud due to recent high-profile security breaches and the changing nature of the workplace with millions now working from home regularly. I would urge companies to give their security as much attention as they do their cashflow or P&L sheets.”
