1. Someone else is looking after your data
Unlike a data center, which is run by an in-house IT department, the cloud is an off-premise system in which users outsource their data needs to a third party provider. The provider does everything from performing all updates and maintenance to managing security. The bigger picture, however, is that users are trusting their data for someone else to look after.
2. Cyberattacks
Any time you store data on the Internet, you are at risk for a cyberattack. This is particularly problematic on the cloud, where volumes of data are stored by all types of users on the same cloud system."The single point of failure is the cloud. If something goes bad it impacts a very wide group of people. It's easier to steal and disrupt in bulk."
3. Lack of standardization What makes a cloud "safe"? A provider could have the latest security features, but due to the general lack of cloud standardization, there are no clear-cut guidelines unifying cloud providers. Further, given the plethora of cloud services in different sectors, this is especially problematic for users when determining exactly how "safe" their cloud really is.
4. Insider threats
Just as cyberattacks are on the rise, so are security breaches from the inside. "Vodafone's breach of 2 million customer records and the Edward Snowden breach at the NSA are wake-up calls that the most serious breaches are due to insider threats and privileged user access," said Eric Chiu, president and co-founder of HyTrust, a cloud infrastructure control company. Once an employee gains or gives others access to your cloud, everything from customer data to confidential information and intellectual property are up for grabs.
5. Government intrusion With the recent NSA leaks and the ensuing reports on government surveillance programs, competitors aren't the only ones who may want to take a peek at your data.Granted, privacy has always been a concern with the cloud. But instead of just worrying about competitors, disgruntled customers or employees breaching cloud security, businesses now have to worry about government intrusion as well.
6. Lack of support
Imagine being unable to access your cloud before a big meeting or, worse, being in the middle of a cyberattack that has taken down your entire bread and butter —your website. Now imagine trying to contact your provider, only to find that their customer service is nonexistent. While some cloud providers have excellent customer support, others could leave you in the cold.
"The most frustrating thing when something goes wrong is not being able to speak directly with an engineer," said April Sage, director of Healthcare Vertical at Online Tech, a cloud provider specializing on compliant cloud hosting.
References:
http://www.druva.com/blog/trends/from-insecurity-to-innovation-why-the-era-ofcloud-storage-is-here/
-Tohid Tamboli
MCS First Year.