Companies that use cloud hosting are facing a multitude of issues. Most of these issues are related to security threats and data breaches within the cloud network. The threat of a data breach is so high that 53% of companies believe that cloud hosting poses many general security risks. The risks are the essential barriers to cloud hosting. Companies must follow the best practices in cloud hosting, as highlighted below.
Services Accessible by Cloud Hosting
Before selecting a cloud hosting service, ensure that the company and IT officers know the services they are getting. An important point in choosing a suitable cloud hosting service for business is Software as a Service (SaaS). Most cloud hosting companies provide access through the web. Cloud hosting offers different services, such as:
- Infrastructure as a service (IaaS)
- SaaS (Software as a Service)
- Platform-based services or Platform as a Service (PaaS)
SaaS is a well-known service that makes software applications accessible through web sources. Infrastructure-as-a-service refers to remote access to servers or storage capabilities. At the same time, Platform-as-a-service is a software-based computing platform that enables developers to design, build, and deploy web applications on a hosted infrastructure.
Applications Included in Cloud Hosting
Cloud hosting allows companies to put an application into the cloud. Each application can be charged differently depending on the sources it uses. Businesses should put the applications that they frequently need on the cloud. More importantly, regulatory and compliance issues prevent companies from putting specific applications into the cloud, especially those that involve sensitive user data.
IDC surveys show that the primary uses of Clouds are:
- IT management
- Collaboration
- Personal or enterprise applications
- Application development
- Server and storage capabilities
Transferability of Applications
An essential aspect of a cloud hosting service is allowing easy access and transfer of different applications. Application transfer services from one cloud platform to another and in-house cloud data centers must be easy and quick.
Cloud hosting services will have to adapt standard technologies to ensure true interoperability. The recent “Open Cloud Manifesto” supports the interoperability of data and applications. The Open Cloud Consortium advocates for frameworks that allow different companies that provide cloud-hosting services to work seamlessly between them. The goal is to move an application from one cloud to another without having to rewrite it.
The Security Offered by Cloud Hosting Providers
The cloud-hosting provider must offer adequate security measures to protect the client’s sensitive data. In the past, there have been several data breaches. These breaches resulted in the loss of sensitive data and millions of dollars. While keeping data on a cloud has risks, many hosting companies offer proper security measures to keep your data safe.
Before choosing a cloud hosting service, be careful when reviewing the SLA. Understanding all the concepts discussed before making a final decision is essential. The terms and conditions must be easy to understand. Reading through all publicly available data is necessary. Amazon, for example, maintains a dashboard that shows the state of operation of the various services and their history.
There will always be latencies on the network with a cloud service, making applications slower than running on your data center. Many third-party vendors, such as RightScale, are developing additional services to the cloud to ensure that applications evolve and work well.
Companies that need cloud hosting services must ensure that the company is ready to adopt the principles of cloud computing. The service must have open data centers.
Conclusion
In conclusion, cloud hosting brings various challenges, primarily around security threats and data breaches. The high-risk perception, as indicated by 53% of companies, underscores the importance of robust security measures. Best practices in cloud hosting encompass understanding available services, including IaaS, SaaS, and PaaS, and strategically selecting applications to address regulatory concerns. The transferability of applications and the assurance of interoperability play a pivotal role.
Security remains paramount, with providers needing to uphold stringent measures to safeguard sensitive data. Prospective users must scrutinize service level agreements, ensuring clarity in terms and conditions. As the cloud hosting landscape evolves, companies venturing into this realm must be well-prepared to embrace the principles of cloud computing and ensure open data center integration for a seamless experience.
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