Cloud IT Still Eluding the Typical Enterprise

By Susan J. Campbell
TMCnet Contributing Editor

The cloud is no longer an ominous, mysterious place that companies avoid. The small business has embraced the opportunity to leverage applications in the cloud, enjoying the opportunity to compete on playing fields much more level than they ever have been in the past. It’s created opportunities for providers and customers alike, yet the enterprise is still sitting on the sidelines, watching how this plays out.

Unfortunately, the enterprise as a whole still fears the cloud and cloud IT. The main reason: cyber security. Too many either don’t understand the risks or the inherent protections or they’re so wrapped up in their legacy investments that it doesn’t make sense for them to consider other possibilities. The former is more likely and a lack of information or understanding is closing the door to opportunity.

A recent eWeek report highlighted the 10 security reasons why the enterprise still fears the cloud. The primary reason for this fear is that the enterprise – like other businesses – wants to know that its data is safe. But the assumption is that with data in the cloud, the enterprise has less control over who can access and see confidential data.

And, while cloud providers have data centers in multiple locations to ensure redundancy in all situations, this disparity in locations can also introduce problems in regards to regulatory compliance and internal corporate policies. Too many enterprise decision makers also assume that third-parties will have access to their data if they use a cloud provider. What they often don’t understand is that the risk for on-premise data to fall into the hands of a third-party is just as high, if not higher.

Compliance is also an issue. Some enterprise decision makers believe that regulatory compliance in the cloud is more complex than on-premise deployments. In reality, the tools for addressing these issues are available in the cloud, yet not widely used. Other believe that using the cloud for their data can slow access to their data, hurting business processes. Still others worry that the use of cloud IT will make their sensitive data vulnerable to attack.

Other obstacles to the adoption of cloud IT in the enterprise include the fear of SQL injection attacks as well as the potential data theft by authorized users, and the idea that neighboring tenants can have access to corporate data. What many don’t realize is that the security options put in place for cloud-based solutions are often more robust than on-premise offerings.

Still, decisions are known to move slow in the corporate environment. It takes a while for everyone to get on board with decisions, even if they’re good for the company. Does that mean the enterprise has a chance at the cloud? The assumption is yes.