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Cloud security still working out the kinks

If the future of the computing is in the cloud, the future of computer security is in cloud security. Visualizing data in the cloud is something people have gotten used to; alleviating safety concerns isn't always so simple. While wrangling over the legal processing and usage of cyber intelligence continues, there are ways in which users can optimize the cloud for security and connectivity.

The first step to understanding security in cloud computing, wrote David Shacochis on Wired, might be to change the conversation. Specifically, that cloud computing, while in many ways linked to the internet, is not the internet.

"Cloud computing is a deployment, procurement and control paradigm. It doesn't need to be synonymous with using the Internet," Shacochis wrote.

Changing the computer security landscape
As cloud service providers and private clouds proliferate, wrote Shacochis, the technology's reliance on the internet isn't as static as it once was. Tunnel-based and cross-connect-based approaches offer public cloud access without having to travel through the internet to get there.

Innovative modes of data sharing can't erase privacy concerns overnight, wrote Shacochis. He illustrated the difficulties that arise when debating the effectiveness of cloud security - problems that start with perspective. Some concerns arise from trusting vital information to a third party, while others stem from perceived security compromises while data storage undergoes a transformation.

The growth of private and hybrid clouds, which combine a public storage cloud with a private one, mean that companies are able to have a tighter, more secure control over their data. Among other benefits for companies, wrote Shacochis, are a decrease in "cloud tax," or the network charge for data storage, as well as a reduction in "network sprawl," or the extension (often to the point of weakening) of secure data storage centers. 

Making the cloud safe for business
Companies can minimize their vulnerability in the cloud by not losing their heads, wrote Emma Byrne for Forbes. She argued that cloud providers' emphasis on multi-layered security is a product of a commitment to security, not a fear of leaks.

"After all, when handling other people's data is your business, it makes sense to invest in keeping it secure," Byrne wrote. "While few organizations would describe cloud computing as 'business as usual,' it's still business. The same rules of risk and return apply."

If your business is in handling data, getting an SSL certificate today will ensure its protection in transit.

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