The Start: today, cloud services offer clients a variety of service options. From auto-data backup to recovery. Cloud Computing is indeed seeing a massive leap in innovation and progress. However, cybercriminals and mistakes can still happen. These can be purely out of neglect or serious mistakes. These mistakes can put sensitive business data at risk.
They can make data recovery or retrieval costly in case of breaches or mistakes. Safe data backup always uses tough access protocols for both in-house systems and cloud-based systems. So what are some of these unforgivable cloud mistakes?
The Top Unforgiveable Cloud Computing Mistakes
1. Instant Entire Business Data Migration
When migrating data to the cloud, there’s always a moment of vulnerability and exposure. Businesses have to be cautious and alert at all times in the process. The service providers have to be vetted and guaranteed as secure as possible. Bringing sensitive business data onto the cloud is risky. That’s why businesses have to plan in advance in detail and advance the data migration. They can be migrated in phases like first non-essential or test data and then business-critical or sensitive data. That way, in case of mistakes, occur in data migration, in the beginning, it doesn’t expose sensitive data at risk.
2. Lack of Cloud Governance and Planning Strategy
Governance and planning are ideals all business processes and tasks must conform to. They are conducted under established rules and policies. They define all the tasks provided by the service provider and the client roles. Whereas service providers avail the network resources on the cloud, they are also done under governance ad planning. When all is defined and illustrated services flow smoothly. That’s why governance and planning are crucial.
The main areas of governance include tracking, security and finance. Besides, clearly defining business staff in charge of specific cloud tasks like security, data backups and business continuity.
3. Non-Tracking of Service Performance
Failure to track and evaluate regularly the cloud service is a step towards doom. There are several services offerings and their actual performance. When performance falls short of expectations it’s a contractual failure. Besides, for clients, the risks may be more than bargained for. Besides wasting money it may affect the flow of vital business operations.
Constant review and evaluation are essential. Tracking key performance indicators (KPI) and proper ways of handling real and potential deviations from planned results are necessary.
4. Having No Idea of Cloud Data Storage
Usually, cloud data storage is on done cloud service provider servers. The servers are located remotely anywhere. However, it’s vital for the client to know the precise location where the storage servers are. This is because globally, different data policies exist and are in force. Business data must obey and follow these data regulations. Cloud services providers have to disclose to clients the precise remote location in the service agreement.
5. Thinking all is Transferable to the Cloud
Although there are several apps, some don’t cloud compatible. Businesses and clients ought to realize what can be done on the cloud. Integration into the cloud is a process that needs patient testing and validation. When all apps are compatible are integration-friendly then businesses adopt the cloud. Without integration, businesses risk several aspects of their business.
6. Not Grasping Shared Cloud Responsibility Model
Often, cloud services require clients and providers to take cloud security seriously. The service providers state the client responsibilities and duties. This states the service providers and client business roles in a service level agreement (SLA). The SLA contains information on a detailed shared cloud responsibility model. It also precisely states what client businesses and cloud service providers control while managing cloud security.
7. Assuming Cloud as In-House Data Centre
We assume several things the wrong way yet this one can prove costly. Several businesses may take their cloud environments as in-house data centres.
Cloud services may avail lower costs but also need professional teams to handle them. In-house data centres only add marginal costs to utility bills. On the other hand, the cloud charges as per hourly rates of usage. Without proper cloud system control, it may spiral to higher maintenance costs.
8. Thinking IT Staff Will Easily Adapt to the Cloud
In-house networks are manageable by most IT staff. However, trained experts are needed for cloud management. Training and retraining of IT staff is a necessity. Before hiring cloud professionals experience with a cloud environment matters.
Lacks of cloud security management can be costly. Putting sensitive business data on the line makes businesses lose credibility and trust. Hiring the best professionals ensures all-around safety and services.
9. Trusting All Issues with Cloud Services
Though service providers are reliable, clients still have a responsibility. A cloud service provider will avail a client of all requirements. But clients are also responsible for what is under their control. There are tasks like deployment, maintenance and ensuring security measures are client responsibilities. Clients have a role to play. The cloud service provider cannot handle everything without client involvement.
10. Failure to Delete Obsolete Cloud Data
Obsolete cloud data is of no use and irrelevant. Cloud data can be eliminated by service providers who delete it from the service end hard drives. Since data is already transferred and backed up on the cloud systems. The services provider can delete data if users or clients request to do so. This is the only certified way to confirm obsolete data is 100% erased.
11. Abandoning Cloud Security
Though cloud services avail enhanced security, the client must take security seriously always. The cloud may be strategic in outlook and preparation as that protects businesses on the cloud. It gives an extra edge and layer to businesses and firms on the cloud. Businesses with sub-standard system control policies or bad software development expose themselves. The core duty for data security lies with the users or clients. Security failure can be costly. It requires maximum security planning with service providers with regular reviews and updates.
The End
Finding reliable and trusted managed service providers for Cloud Computing solutions is a big task. With several services and solution providers, it can be confusing. But by carefully examining top managed service providers it’s possible to make the right choice. The service vendors are several and selecting the best potential providers is possible.