Data Protection, AI and the IoT are Changing the Cloud and IT Security

Do you use a cloud? Or maybe even several clouds? You most likely own a smartphone, so you probably also use a cloud. Have you ever been concerned about the data that you save there? And have you ever had to deal with data theft? The risk of data loss affects not only private cloud users, but also – and especially – companies.

The Dichotomy with the Cloud

Cloud users still have concerns about cloud services. Companies and private individuals are scared of hacker attacks and the resulting loss of data. In contrast, however, confidence in cloud computing is growing thanks to the increased prevalence of IT security solutions offering ever greater transparency and control.

German companies spend around a third of their IT budget on IT security—and this figure is rising. And it’s about not just increasing security, but also creating new strategies and solutions to protect cloud computing.

There are four good reasons for a paradigm shift in cloud computing and IT security.

1. The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)

Everyone’s heard of the GDPR.

The enforcement of the new data protection guidelines means mandatory, increased documentation, organization, and transparency—mandatory not only for cloud users, but also for cloud providers because the GDPR divides responsibility between both parties.

In reality, however, the lion’s share of responsibility lies with the cloud users, with the cloud providers often remaining on the outside.

So when using a cloud for your company, you should ask yourself seven key questions to be on the safe side:

1. Is there a legal basis for data transmission to the cloud provider, and are all cloud services documented and organized?
2. Are the cloud locations known, and do they have security measures and certification?
3. Do the cloud providers act in accordance with Article 28 of the GDPR, and are agreements on deleting data properly complied with?
4. Are the cloud services resilient, and is data transmission safe and secure?
5. Is it possible to prevent data manipulation, and are standardized procedures in place for reporting data protection violations?
6. Does the cloud user (i.e. your company) have full control of and access to your security status?
7. Are security measures in place for checking identities, managing weaknesses and encrypting and transmitting data?

As you can see, companies have to change their way of thinking. More solutions for transparency must be initiated so that the data protection obligations can be met.

2. Hybrid-Cloud Computing and Multi-Cloud Computing

How is your IT structured? Do you also use hybrid-cloud computing (a combination of private and public cloud) and multi-clouds (simultaneous use of different cloud providers)? Or are you not entirely sure what your IT team actually does, how it does it and where?

The fact is that cloud computing is being transformed through a series of separate, individual approaches. This makes centralized management more difficult but all the more necessary because this is the only way that IT security will work smoothly and effectively.

More and more companies have also recognized the importance of IT security and the difference that a transparent and clearly structured IT landscape can make. So companies increasingly want consistent IT security and control over this.

So instead of multiple small solutions (island solutions), uniform cloud security platforms acting as interfaces with a wide range of security solutions are becoming necessary. This is what makes central security management possible for you.

The possibility of more agile business means that the cloud is extremely popular right now, but IT security must nevertheless (be able to) keep up.

3. Edge Computing and the Internet of Things

In the era of the Internet of Things, data analysis is once again becoming the job of special hardware such as devices and sensors.

Since this distributed IT infrastructure now contains more hardware than ever before, it also offers more scope for attacks. It is therefore vital that the end points are protected.

IT security solutions also have to be able to deal with different cloud and edge computing combinations, which can be configured in any number of ways and where data protection is vital at all times. IT security therefore also affects the interaction of edge security and security solutions.

4. Automation, AI and Machine Learning

Cloud management has now reached the automation phase. An increasing number of processes have become standardized. AI (artificial intelligence) and machine-learning are being integrated and deployed in the fields of self-driving, self-securing and self-repairing. Since the system is itself learning all the time, threats can be resolved more quickly. AI also supports personnel, increasing the potential for targeted innovation. As a result, AI has become an essential component of the cloud.

Summary

The GDPR, hybrid-cloud/multi-cloud computing, edge-computing in combination with the Internet of Things, automation and AI pose new challenges for cloud users and providers to which they have no choice but to respond.

Digital transformation is not just based on the cloud, it also changes the cloud. And this also changes the way we work.

Interested in more information on the cloud and IT security issues? Check out how we can help you to find the right cloud solution for you. Just contact us.

– NTT DATA Business Solutions –