Cloud, Security and Us

Progress, automation, digitalisation boost productivity. That’s no news and cloud is the latest “craze”. Its benefits are now familiar to all of us, be our cloud-based systems a SaaA, a PaaS or an IaaS one.
Together with the full remote access to company systems, we have lower capital expenditure, maintenance outsourcing, limitless scalability, constantly upgraded software, innovation incentive and experiment encouragement. Not to mention Talent Crowdsourcing as one of the most appealing future policy for flexible firms.

Security is “the” issue here. Remote storing, massive data streams and a large number of different kind of devices simultaneously connected to the same platform multiply the risk of unwelcome intrusions and privacy violations.

According to many experts, though, the cloud is definitely safe. «If you want something protected, give it to Google» recently stated Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt (read the full interview in italian). And companies working in the cloud can access a level of data security that may be otherwise extremely expensive. Actually, independent essays – just like advertising brochures – draw the attention to suitable standards and certification schemes, clear Service Level Agreements (SLAs) and continuous monitoring as key elements, set to protect cloud customers. But that, in my opinion, it’s just a part of the issue, and I dare say not the most important, as long as end users keep lacking of awareness and expertise. If I recall images from the offices I have worked in, I see PCs usually left unattended, though still connected, or passwords written on post-its stuck on the frame of the monitor.

Such careless behaviours towards privacy and security and a general “who cares” attitude, are possibly reinforcing the scepticism of Italian CIOs about adopting cloud solutions. I don’t mean the current crisis is not playing a major role both for Italy and the rest of Europe, but I wouldn’t underestimate our daily conduct, too. After all, as end users of cloud services, we are responsible for its best management. We need to improve a bad reputation we have, almost worldwide!

Download Cloud Survey 2013 (pdf, Italian)