AIT - Issues with the Use of Cloud Computing

Issues to do with the use of cloud computing including; 12 ATAR

The cloud offers ready access to many resources for so many people.
It reduces both hardware and software operating costs for business and private users.
It is very convenient to access it on multiple devices.
But what is the real cost of saving data online, and using online applications.

The more online applications we have, the more online data we have.
10 years ago there were hardly any online applications. Now we have 1000s to choose from.
We can use online applications such as social networking to keep in touch with family and friends.
Business can choose from 100s of online storage applications.
The more that data is stored online, the more opportunity for criminal activity such as theft and fraud.

Access to the data, means who can get to the data.
Is it a matter of going to a website and collecting the information. Like this website.
Do you need to log in to get the information?
Google docs uses the login method. So does Facebook, Twitter and many more.
The more valuable the data is, the more care needs to be taken to keep it safe.
We need to train people to have secure passwords, and to consider unauthorised access as a way of cloud life.
Businesses need to consider reliable and secure cloud computing services, if they were to go down this road.

Confidential means, meant to be secret.
If your data is saved on your home computer, you know it is relatively safe.
If your data is saved in the cloud, you don’t know if it is safe or not.
It is the same with business. If stored locally, they know it is mostly safe.
If business store in the cloud, then there are many questions that can be asked.
Is the data safe from unauthorised people looking at it and possibly using it?
The Cloud Service Provider (CSP) may analyse client data.
Hackers may get into the data and analyse it for business secrets and the like.
People need to consider where they place confidential or secret data.
Businesses need to consider if the cloud storage solution they are using is secure or not.

Data stored in the cloud is important.
Some are more important than others.
For example the secret business plans for Holden’s latest model car.
Patient records for hospital systems are sensitive and their storage needs to be different from that of a blog post for kid writing about his BMX race on the weekend.
The more sensitive the document, the more care needs to taken to keep it safe.
Where are your doctors records kept?

1. Name the olden day method for storing data and state how it is different from the current trend of cloud storage.

2. Explain how cloud computing can cause issues for a business.

3. Go to the wikipedia site below and find out what the third biggest threat is for cloud computing. Answer: insider attacks

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