Is your data more secure in a cloud environment than on premise?

From Pegasus Software
As more and more businesses move to a cloud solution, one of the major concerns SMEs have is over
the security of their data in a cloud deployment. It’s easy to see why: stories of data breaches appear in
the media on a regular basis. KPMG reported that 30% of global senior executives had concerns
relating to data loss and 26% had concerns over general security risks.*
But with increasing cloud adoption, it’s hard to deny that cloud computing has many benefits: no
upfront software licence and hardware costs, no hardware constraints, the ability to run an agile
business as long as you have an internet connection, the ease of adding new users as needed, and
24/7 access.
But even with major advantages in terms of cost and flexibility, the question of security is one that
needs to be addressed: in reality, is your data actually safer on premise than it is in the cloud?
This guide will help you make an informed choice and decide if it’s right for your business.

Our on-premise solution is safer because it’s in our building

We have complete control over our in house system with our IT team managing the physical
servers and cooling fans and maintaining the data. We can even stop data from leaving our
server room.
Believe it or not, most security breaches originate within the organisation. A cloud
solution can offer you greater protection.
Unauthorised access to a hosted data centre is extremely rare, and the majority of
breaches from in-house systems are within their own firewalls. Cloud hosting providers
protect their customers and alert them to any issues. In addition, hosting servers are
kept in multiple locations, offering an extra layer of security compared to the risks
associated with storing data in a single location.
Having our servers physically accessible means better protection from viruses
Security threats are not a major concern as software updates and patches are under the
control of our IT staff who keep it up to date.
The providers of a hosted environment deploy anti-virus protection rapidly to hundreds
of customers without the intervention of internal IT staff. They undertake the time-
consuming tasks of ensuring they are up to date with emerging threats and the latest
protection and applying security patches, leaving your internal IT staff to focus on other
tasks within the business.
Our on-premise server is more reliable because we can fix any issues ourselves
Because we manage our own servers in our building, we can ensure uptime and maintain
them ourselves if required.
Cloud solutions actually guarantee uptimes as they experience fewer disruptions to
service and have 24/7/365 monitoring.
Due to their scale and size, hosting partners tend to have fewer service disruptions and
faster recovery times which leads to reduced downtimes and therefore greater cost
benefits to the business through continuity of service.
Conclusion
Cloud vendors typically offer a much higher level of data centre and virtual system
security than most organisations can build and maintain themselves. The leading cloud
providers have made huge investments in their security tools and procedures to benefit
and protect their customers, allowing them to get on with running their businesses.
Further assistance
Make sure your data is hosted in UK data centres that hold ISO 27001certification.
Be honest about your IT team’s expertise and capacity to manage data risk.
Devolving that responsibility to full-time specialists at your hosting provider means
you can avoid the cost and distraction associated with the risk.
Choose a cloud vendor that supports the right login credentials, authentication and
data encryption using TSL and SSL so as not to undermine the integrity and security
of your system.
For more information, please contact us.