privacy

Tapping into the benefits of the cloud is a popular business move in today’s fast-paced environment. But getting the most out of a cloud deployment depends on asking the right questions from the start. Not all offerings are created equal, and not all types of files, applications, and data are suited for the cloud.

Failing to ask key questions can lead to implementation mistakes. Taking careful consideration of enterprise requirements and finding appropriate services to fit those needs is key to a successful cloud migration. Following are important questions to ask before making a purchase.

What existing capabilities and knowledge does the IT department currently have that will aid in a deployment?

As with most IT processes, the devil is in the details. Most companies understand that there are efficiencies to be gained by implementing cloud tools, but they also realize there is much they don’t know. This can lead to fear and reluctance to go forward with a cloud migration. Fears often center on compliance and security concerns.

Education is an effective counter to cloud fears. If the company has an in-house IT team, take stock of what knowledge and skills they bring to the table. Strategize about how the team will be used during and after migration. Plan ahead to provide training for in-house personnel or tap into third-party providers to fill in any knowledge gaps.

What services does the company need?

To avoid taking a potentially costly and time-consuming misstep, start off by understanding as much as possible about how the company will use the cloud. Consider how much data the company needs to store, what features are needed to enhance business processes, and what types of tasks the company needs the cloud service to support. Also take into account privacy and security requirements as well as any regulations or compliance issues that must be met.

What cloud service model makes the most sense for the company?

Cloud services come in three primary models — private, public, and hybrid — each with its own pros and cons. Private services are usually hosted in-house, which increases security but at a higher cost than shared services. Public cloud services, on the other hand, share resources and costs across multiple users, providing a cost-effective solution — but in a shared environment that some enterprises might deem too risky.

Hybrid models attempt to mesh the best of both worlds, providing the cost savings and shared advantages of the public cloud while maintaining private options for certain data and applications that require a high level of security and privacy.

Cloud services offer the potential for enormous efficiencies and business advantages, but choosing the wrong service could quickly nullify those benefits.

Asking a few key questions can yield answers the enterprise can use to shop for and ultimately buy the best cloud value for their investment. Contact Worldnet to learn more about implementing business cloud services.

Bring your own device (BYOD) programs are growing in popularity among companies hoping to increase productivity while keeping costs under control. These programs allow employees to use their personal smartphone, tablet, or other device at work for both personal and business purposes.

In addition to improving productivity and increasing cost efficiencies, BYOD programs are associated with better levels of employee satisfaction. But companies need to be aware of increased security and privacy vulnerabilities associated with allowing outside devices onto their internal networks, as well as ways to increase the security of a BYOD program.

Risks of BYOD

Outside devices represent a potentially uncontrolled entry point to the network, as well as an avenue for critical data to leave the network and fall into the wrong hands. To protect against those potential vulnerabilities, a company should endeavor to carefully monitor personal devices and put in place policies and procedures to control how those devices access and interact with the network.

Recommendations for Providing a Safe BYOD Program

1. Be thorough in BYOD preparation. Before rolling out a BYOD plan, a business should ensure that key personnel understand the goals of the plan and are involved with formulating policies. A business should study its privacy and security needs and understand any risks that might be associated with collecting and storing personal information from devices on company network assets. Privacy and security requirements should complement each other.

2. Formulate policies around BYOD to stop potential threats before they happen. Training employees about their responsibilities as participants in the program is a crucial step that can prevent inadvertent security lapses. Policies should be communicated clearly to every employee who participates. Employees should be made aware of how their devices and data will be monitored, and how they are allowed to use devices while accessing company networks.

3. Have a containment plan in place for security breaches. Once employees are trained to be the first line of defense against BYOD-related security risks, companies must prepare for the fact that security breaches are inevitable. Consider implementing a containerization policy, which essentially divides personal information from business information on devices. Mobile device management software can help restrict the mingling of information between the personal and business segments, thereby protecting company data.

4. Deploy standard security measures. Encrypting data that flows between personal devices and company networks is a logical security step. In addition, using secure connections to transmit data to and from devices will further protect the network from breaches. Finally, maintaining software and hardware and ensuring all patches and updates are complete will help protect equipment from a variety of security risks.

When breaches inevitably occur, companies should activate a formal process to contain the threat, including detecting, investigating, correcting, and reporting the problem in order to learn how to better handle future incursions.

Putting It All Together

Like any up-and-coming trend, BYOD has both its advantages and its risks. A thorough preparation process and development of thoughtful and flexible policies can address privacy concerns and help identify and prevent security breaches.

Companies that are careful to consider the implications of allowing personal devices onto their networks can capitalize on BYOD advantages while mitigating risks.

BYOD Privacy and Security Recommendations

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