The world of retail is an ever-adapting one. A decade ago, people had to go out to do most of their shopping. Now, consumers can do a majority of their shopping from home. Because of that, some retailers can do business entirely online, but even those that still use physical stores do a lot of their data processing online.
This is way more convenient, but the security of consumer data is always a concern now. Plus, with a giant push toward cloud storage, many people are left asking, “How safe is the cloud for e-commerce and retailers?” That’s what we’re here to answer today for companies that are unsure about making the switch.
Is the Cloud Safe?
Unfortunately, the answer to this is not a simple yes or no. No matter where you store your data, if it’s online, it’s prone to exposure to hackers. The only way to keep your data away from them is to keep it offline, but that’s insanely impractical in this day and age. So even though we can’t say cloud storage is 100 percent safe, we can say it’s typically much safer than personally storing your data online.
Why Is It the Best Option?
A few components make cloud storage a more secure option. The first is the fact that cloud storage facilities are state-of-the-art technology centers. This means their systems are very likely to be more advanced than whatever your company is using for its online storage. On top of that, these centers are run by professionals who make protecting your data their full-time jobs. They know the ins and outs of security better than anyone else, which makes them the best equipped to handle any potential threats.
Data centers are also held to higher standards than retailers. They have to meet regulations such as SOC as well as HIPAA and HITECH, depending on the industries they service. Plus, independent third-party auditors must certify them to ensure that they don’t take shortcuts and that everything is up to code.
What Can You Do To Make It Safer?
If that’s not enough to convince you how safe the cloud is for e-commerce and retailers, then it’ll help to know you can take some steps to increase your data’s security. Changing your unique passwords often, encrypting consumer data files, and setting up two-factor authentication are just a few of the things you can do to increase your cloud security. Of course, updating your software as soon as possible is also a must because your data protection is only as good as your latest patch.
We can’t forget that who you entrust to handle your data is your choice. There are many cloud-computing companies out there, so choosing one can be difficult. However, should you go with us here at Atmosera, our Azure data protection services are top of the line. They’ll make it easier than ever to ensure your data remains safe and secure.