New Survey Highlights Security Risks in Cloud Computing

A new survey by Trend Micro (available at http://us.trendmicro.com/imperia/md/content/us/trendwatch/cloud/global_cloud_survey_exec_summary_final.pdf) shows that almost half of all respondents had experienced a data security lapse or issue in the last twelve months. The survey focused on large companies of 500 or more employees using cloud services. It highlights the need to conduct strong due diligence of potential cloud vendors, including questions regarding past security breaches and issues, current security practices, employee security training, contingency planning, etc. It also means businesses must be even more careful in choosing to place their data in the cloud and, if they choose to proceed, ensuring their contracts with the cloud provider contain meaningful protections for data security and confidentiality.

Unfortunately, many cloud providers continue to decline even baseline protections for data security or, if they offer those protections, they have so limited their liability that they face little risk in the event of a compromise. The evidence is mounting that real security concerns exist in cloud computing, businesses must be more vigilant in choosing vendors that take those risks seriously. Vendors that step forward and show they are willing to provide appropriate protections are going to have the advantage over their competitors.