What is the Cloud?
Cloud storage is a now ubiquitous generic term, characterized by a dematerialized business model in which information is archived and accessed remotely, quickly and from any terminal.
There are three types of cloud: public, private and hybrid. The public cloud is the most widely used, where data is stored and operated by third-party providers. The private cloud is used by a single entity with limited, personalized access, and the hybrid cloud allows data to pass between the two. In this way, a company can store confidential data on a private cloud, and store its other, less sensitive data on public clouds.
The advantages are manifold, starting with the fact that it requires no specific initial investment, as the service is accessible in SaaS (Software as a Service) mode, i.e. a subscription to software delivered via the Internet rather than installed on the company's servers. Updates are automatic and secure, and maintenance costs are borne by the supplier. What's more, the tool is flexible and adaptable to the company's evolution
Any malfunction of local hardware will have no effect on data stored in the cloud, which can be a decisive factor in gaining market share. Over 60% of SMEs in France have opted for this method of data storage.
However, this mode of operation requires above all a flawless network connection, so it's important that the company's network infrastructure is able to support these services. This can also prove problematic in the event of a network connection failure On the other hand, it should be borne in mind that this offshoring of data is not always immune to cyber-attacks, which are often carried out as they pass from one network to another (mobile network, wifi, etc.), and can pass through installed firewalls, reducing the level of security for sensitive data (addresses, medical records) which can be hijacked and exploited for unlawful commercial purposes. However, good anti-virus software can protect you effectively against this cybercrime.
