Putting cloud security fears to rest

Even though many businesses have already adopted cloud computing, or are currently planning an investment, some common fears linger regarding the managed IT service. Chief among these fears is the issue of security on the managed network, as well as identity management. However, while these fears might be troubling for some, a recent TechTarget article offered advice on how to deal with these seemingly problematic areas.

Regarding security, businesses and organizations must be familiar with the policies their providers have. An expert told TechTarget that companies must be sure to ask questions about their provider's security policies and they should also visit the provider's data center in order to ensure physical security. Performing these actions will go a long way for calming potential security fears.

For identity management, many companies view passwords as problematic, as many cyber hackers have the ability to simply "bust through them," as the article states. However, the federal government is currently taking large strides toward implementing a federated ID ecosystem that would largely protect against cyberfraud. In fact, the Obama administration stated earlier this month that it would created a "Trusted Identities in Cyberspace" program to cut down on cyberfraud.

So as more companies turn toward the cloud - an Ipswitch report estimates 63.7 percent of businesses will adopt the service in 2011 - dealing with security issues is easier than many might think.