Enterprise cloud storage has changed the world of doing business. No longer are you required to have sufficient space for on-site servers; and collaboration among team members and across departments is easier than ever — regardless of whether they’re working at the office, from home, or from the other side of the world.
Yet, for most people, it exists as an abstract concept. Files are stored in the cloud. That’s the extent of their understanding. So, what is enterprise cloud storage? What are the different types? And which factors should you keep in mind when securing the data stored in the cloud?
What is Enterprise Cloud Storage?
Enterprise cloud storage is a centralized location where a company can store all their data. It’s a similar concept as cloud storage, but specifically designed to manage large workloads — as well as allowing access to numerous computers.
Enterprise cloud storage is ideal for businesses, since it’s easily scalable and often comes with additional related features, such as:
- Reliable backup
- Restoration capabilities
- Data sharing
- Disaster recovery
Also, instead of keeping your data in servers on-site, it is stored and transferred over the internet. As such, information is available from any location. By the same token, users can remotely upload additional data and collaborate with other users.
How Does Enterprise Cloud Storage Work?
Enterprise cloud storage utilizes a storage area network (SAN) to keep all data. This type of network is managed by a third party. It also interconnects multiple devices and servers — making copies of files and storing them in different physical servers. So if one of the servers fails, you still have access to critical information.
To have access to cloud storage, you simply need reliable internet and to create an account with the service provider. Once you do, you can access it from any mobile device — desktop, laptop, tablet, or smartphone. You can also give access to coworkers, partners, clients, and any other collaborators; as well as control the type of access they have: they can read and/or edit shared documents.
Enterprise cloud storage also eliminates the need for on-site space for companies to keep their servers. Since everything is saved in the cloud, this type of storage provides businesses with a significantly more efficient way to store data — as well as saving them money and the need for dedicated space.
Different Types of Enterprise Cloud Storage
As with anything else in business, not all cloud storage options are the same. Although they all allow you to store, share, and collaborate on files, different platforms offer different features. Which one would work best for your enterprise depends on your business needs.
Private Cloud Storage
Private cloud storage allows you to save your information on-premises, in servers that are under your exclusive control. This type of storage is customized to the business’ needs regarding data access and administrative controls. It’s usually the preferred storage method of entities that handle highly sensitive information, such as banks.
Public Cloud Storage
Public cloud storage is provided as a service by a third party. The infrastructure is owned and managed by the entity offering the service, such as Google Drive, Dropbox, SharePoint, or Amazon AWS. Therefore, it’s not customized to each company using the service. That said, since the infrastructure has capabilities to store massive amounts of data for multiple clients worldwide, they offer high performance.
Hybrid Cloud Storage
Hybrid cloud storage includes elements from both the private and public modalities of cloud storage. It provides a practical solution for entities that have different storage needs depending on who’s handling specific accounts. For example, company officials who regularly handle confidential data can store it in a private cloud, while the rest of the employees work using public cloud storage.
Community Cloud
Community cloud storage is a multi-tenant platform designed to allow several organizations with common goals to work together. For example, local, state, and government agencies that regularly interact with one another. It allows them to maintain data confidential in a cloud model that’s only accessible to a closed group of users.
Mobile Cloud
Mobile cloud storage is designed to share resources among mobile applications and be used by portable devices, such as mobile phones and tablets. It allows users to access information they would’ve ordinarily not been able to store within their devices due to storage limitations.
Enterprise Cloud Storage Security Considerations
Cloud storage is practical and secure. However, it’s not infallible. Just as with any other technologies, cloud servers can be hacked. Therefore, it’s critical to pay close attention to user agreements. You want to know about details regarding encryption, malware protection, and intrusion detection.
In addition, you’ll want to ensure you are covering all bases under your control. This includes investing in cloud storage security. Some of the best practices include:
Password Policies
Educate employees on using hard to guess passwords and to change them regularly. Weak passwords is one of the most common causes of security breaches. Even better, look for solutions that eliminate the need for passwords altogether, such as biometrics.
Two Factor Authentication
Two-factor authentication requires more than simply entering a password to access data. In addition, users would have to verify who they say they are by providing their fingerprints, entering an authentication code they receive via email, text message or entering a PIN.
Biometrics
Biometrics can include fingerprint, facial, or voice recognition. And in the case of facial requirements, advanced solutions provide liveness checks to prevent unauthorized users to cheat security by using photographs of authorized individuals.
Encryption
Encryption is crucial to any online communication. When storing data in cloud storage, you should always verify they employ advanced encryption standards. This employs 256-bit keys for end-to-end encryption that cannot be intercepted.
Advanced Enterprise Governance
One of the most secure ways to store data is through complete enterprise identity and access management. This entails installing a platform that provides full visibility into all documents — as well as all related activities, including who accessed them, modified, renamed, or shared them. It also provides you with the ability to restrict communications outside your company to only those you pre approve. Doing so blocks any attempted communications/access from unauthorized users and unknown entities.
File Audits
You also want to look for an enterprise cloud storage provider that offers custom audit logs and internal tracking systems. While this is not usually a feature that’s included by most enterprise cloud storage providers, you can download SmartEye technology apps to apply this extra level of protection to your documents.
Account Alerts
Advanced enterprise cloud storage solutions can also come with real-time notifications that instantly let you know when a file has been exposed to unauthorized users. This way, you can immediately terminate access and identify what caused the vulnerability. This feature is also included in Smart Eye Technology’s document security solutions.
Protect Your Cloud With Smart Eye Technology
At Smart Eye Technology, we provide powerful, comprehensive, and affordable cybersecurity measures across all devices. We also make things simple by allowing you to control all implemented tools from one single platform.
Contact us or schedule a demo to see how we can help you protect your cloud storage.
