Recently, Cloudflare issued an incident report detailing a memory leak. Speculators stated the leak began as far back as September 2016, with the most damage occurring February 13-18 2017. Cloudflare has since addressed the security flaw, but the situation raised a number of security questions.

When you work on a cloud, you keep your data, and sometimes even applications, in a remote location. You do not have physical access to this location and are able to access the data and applications through the tools provided by the cloud vendor.

If your service provider pulls the plug, what happens? How can you ensure that your data is safe? And what can you do to ensure data retention when a cloud service shuts down?

Do a background check:

Before getting started, do your homework! A lack of funding is the most common threat to cloud services, which is what makes it so important to do a proper background check on your vendor before you get started. If you can, find out about their revenue model and profitability – even familiarize your self with their customer base to get an idea of their credibility.

Compare Vendors:

Cloud computing is the most talked about technology in the industry right now, and many Vendors are offering top quality services at almost the same price. Instead of selecting one, you may find it more beneficial to work with several Vendors; whatever you need for the right security coverage.

Read the terms of service carefully:

Know your exit plan. We advise you go through the terms of service document very carefully, and note the exit strategies. Talk to your Vendor to figure out whether their planning fits with your needs, before you make a commitment.

Back-up your data:

This is the simplest, and yet the most effective, step you can take to ensure the safety of your data. Since you have no way of physically accessing the location of your data, it is advisable that you back up your data on a physical machine, or have our Help Desk do it for you.

Stay alert for warning signs:

The best way to assess the possibility of a service’s downfall is not just by analyzing the service, but also looking for hints elsewhere. There are many sites that provide you a list of services that are in danger of being shut down. In addition, you should go through the recent financial records of the company if possible. They may not always provide the exact information, but they might give you a clue about their future position.

Remember:

It does not take long for a cloud service to go down. There have been many cases, and people often regret not having taken the proper steps to protect their data. It is highly recommended that anyone who works on the cloud take into account the above factors. Taking care of these aspects will ensure that no matter what the circumstances are, your data will always be secure.

Our established team of experts can help with your IT planning process and a solid plan to secure your data against threats and accidents. CopperTree Solutions provides Strength Beyond IT. Our proactive approach encompasses the planning and full life cycle of your systems and applications so they evolve as your business does. Call 519-804-2461 or email us at Colin.Shantz@ctsol.ca