One of the continuing trends is that businesses are starting to shift their data protection to the cloud for more security. If you own or operate a business and you use your internal network or a data center, you might want to consider this. Now this obviously depends on the size and scope of your business. However, regardless of that, you may want to invest in some cloud backup for important data.

What is the cloud?

It is really hard to explain a cloud in technical detail, but it is essential a virtual storage room for your business that exist separate from your network. What it does, it uses servers to create space on the internet, in order to save all important data and applications. It also allows people to access it from anywhere, with the proper passwords and access level. This tends to be very secure, and good for small business. It also allows them to invest in business applications and other things to improve business. It also allows employees to access vital work from home.

Why is the cloud a good choice?

The cloud is a great choice for businesses because of its affordable, scale-able, and secure. It is an on demand service for companies and you pay for the amount of storage you need. This can grow or shrink depending on your need. Also, if you’re a small business, you don’t have to invest in a massive amount of servers to store data. The security aspect comes from you cloud provider, and that mean they handle most of the hardcore stuff. You have to decide who gets access and how much access they get. This also mitigates the risk for you, because you cloud provider is responsible for anything compromised from your cloud.

What kind of cloud options are there for my business?

There are plenty of options and you have to pick which one is best. The following options tend to be offered the most.

Software as a service (SaaS)- This is licensing software on a subscription bases. Like Microsoft Office 365.

Platform as a service (PaaS)- This is using a cloud to develop applications. If you have something that manages your company’s finances, that is considered an application. PaaS provides back up for it. It also allows you to develop applications on the cloud, for example a mobile app for phones.

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)- This is what this blog is mostly about. This allows your cloud to act as storage and backup. This is one of the best cyber security solutions for any business and if you don’t have it, you should look into it. It basically stores your important information in a cloud on or off site depending on your choice.

Public Clouds- Which do each of the other options, but you would be lumping in your stuff with other companies. This tends to come with a subscription to have this provided for you.

Private Clouds- This is a cloud that is solely built and used by you. You decide who gets access and what you want the cloud to be used for. This can be quite expensive and unnecessary depending on the size and scope of your business. This is also done on premises with your network infrastructure.

Hybrid Cloud- It is a mixture of both public and private cloud. You can have some cloud capabilities used by an on site private cloud. Then you can use a public cloud for other things that you choose.

IaaS is great for security

This blogs talks about using cloud solution for security purposes, and IaaS is what would provide you with that security. The new age of cyber hacking mean that all businesses are at risk, and if you don’t use the best security options, you risk losing your business.

St. John’s University in New York City just finished building a robust data and infrastructure protection system for the university. They worked very close with VMware to build this system and protect all the university’s essential systems. Now this solution was geared towards protecting data in the event of a disaster, and improving the university’s emergency response system.

The first part is that they wanted to protect all the essential information that the university keep on students, faculty, and employees. They have to keep thing like social security numbers, financial information, grades, transcripts and more safe. If a natural or man-made disaster were to affect the school that information is now safe on a cloud. The second aspect is improving their emergency response system.

If a disaster were to ever occur, it could take days even weeks to recover. So if a hurricane blew away St.John’s network and all the information with it, that can be a problem. What the VMware Air Cloud solution gives them, is the ability to access the essential information once the equipment is replaced. So once the network, and computers are up and running, the IT department can take all the essential information and put it into the network from the cloud.  This allows them to resume work, without starting from scratch.

Now on-boarding something like this takes a lot of time, but St. John’s managed to do it in 10 weeks. This can serve as an example for schools, businesses, organizations, and institutions on how to improve your disaster recovery systems. No matter the type organization you run or are a part of, it will grow. Sometimes in the midst of growth, you can forget to grow your backup solutions. Make sure you have scaled you backup systems to meet your needs.

Click here to read about this project at St. John’s here.

Microsoft is working on a new update for Windows 10 that allows it to lock your computer when you walk away. This feature is being called Windows Goodbye, and would use the same technology as Windows Hello cameras. Windows Hello cameras allow a user to log into their computer with their face. Microsoft still has to workout some issues, but expect to see this soon in Windows 10 builds.

The benefits of having this feature are enormous for individuals and companies a like. We use computer and laptops in a variety of different ways, for different purposes. Have you ever sat in a Starbucks or a coffee shop typing away. You may get a cup of coffee for a brief moment, but an unlocked laptop for that moment is at risk. The same principle applies to many situation, in that you step away from you computer and you forget to lock it. We all have our forget full moments, and this help prevent them for costing us.    

Now how Microsoft figures out what measure of inactivity would initiate the lock, is the question? If it is based on a timer of inactivity, it could cause problems. If you’re staring at a screen and you don’t move in like three minutes, will you computer just lock? Will it lock instantly you get up and walk away? Microsoft has work out the details and will before this feature goes to market.
This will prove to be a good feature once it is implemented. All users will find it beneficial for their work computers and personal computers. It may not seem like a big innovation, but it is an essential one. Cyber threats come in all shapes and sizes, and an open unattended computer is a prime target. Also you want to protect your work and personal stuff from prying eyes.