The enterprise data storage landscape is experiencing significant upheaval.  While not all IT departments are making significant changes to their storage models, the insistent push of cloud technology, and the evolving demands of the BYOD (“bring your own device”) trend and its disciples, mean that changes are not matters of if, but when.

While there has been much hand-wringing over cloud solutions and employee-liable devices in the workplace, the time has come to create solutions that will enable the evolution of enterprise storage, rather than trying to quell the tide.

Cloudy BYOD

The most obvious trend driving the evolution of enterprise storage is the cloud, and its advantages are obvious – virtually limitless storage and simplified remote/mobile access to data.

The disadvantages of cloud computing, however, are also significant.  Any time data is transmitted or stored outside the corporate firewall IT relinquishes some degree of control, and there is increased risk of a breach.

The less obvious force bearing down on storage is BYOD, and it is proving to be risky business.
The connection between mobile devices and storage may seem attenuated, but with the rise of personal cloud solutions like Dropbox, the lines are quickly starting to blur.

The fear with BYOD and consumerization IT is that before an IT department knows it, sensitive customer information, personnel files, financial records and strategic planning data may well end up in a cloud repository, completely out of their control.

Clearing Clouds

Despite the significant security implications, enterprises cannot ignore the reality of mobile data access.  Instead, enterprise IT must proactively make decisions about data storage that will both streamline mobile access and protect the most sensitive data.

TappIn by GlobalSCAPE is the most secure, easy-to-use solution for any small businesses’ network-attached storage needs.  This program takes a different approach from cloud services by leaving your content on your computer and not in the cloud, so you retain control of your content on your machine and you control who sees it.

You get all the benefits of mobile data access – anytime anywhere without the risk of storing your content in the cloud.  Businesses large and small have been using similar solutions for remote access – namely SSL VPNs – for some time now.

It provides a much greater measure of control over who can access your data and on what terms, something that is especially critical to businesses in an era when most employees are bringing their own web devices (smartphones, tablets, etc.) into the workplace.

Using services like Dropbox and Google Drive to store sensitive customer information, personnel files, financial data, and strategic planning data, does come with a few risks.

Unlike storing photos and music files or even business data such as marketing materials, collateral, etc. security is paramount when storing sensitive data.

Here are 4 things you should know about before using cloud storage for your business:

#1 Most cloud services aren’t going to claim an ownership interest in your data but…

Their privacy policies require you give them permission to access your data in order to control it.  Also if their security is breached, someone else might very well steal and use sensitive information.

#2 Your data is only as secure as the personal cloud vendor makes it.

The reality is that anytime you store data in a cloud storage solution, you hand over a large degree of control over that data.

Data moving from repository to repository could be at risk if it is not properly encrypted while in transmission.  The security of whatever repository it is ultimately stored in matters as well.  It’s important to know where these services are located and hosted from to make sure they have to and do comply with US laws.

As the Dropbox security breach last summer showed, these systems are not infallible.  The fact that the data is sitting in an archive doesn’t matter if you suddenly don’t need a password or other credentials to get into that archive.

#3 BYOD has proved to be a significant security challenge for businesses over the past five years.

Any time you move corporate data outside the firewall, be it tax records, financial info, or client data, you are giving some control over how that data is transmitted and stored, as well as who can access, copy, and delete information.

When you (knowingly or unknowingly) allow your employees to store enterprise data in a personal cloud solution, you give up even the right to make procurement decisions.  With these services, you give up control over data security in particular.

#4 Personal cloud is on the brink of being the next major consumerization of IT issue

As employees have taken control of their own mobility with the BYOD trend, it seems inevitable that they would seek to control how they accessed data remotely and via their mobile device, and personal cloud vendors are enabling this demand.

The risks with BYOD now aren’t just that employees are bringing security threats into the enterprise network, but that employees are exposing corporate data outside the firewall.

Bottom line, individuals need to be aware of how they use these services, and businesses need to recognize that, just as with BYOD, it’s only a matter of time before they enter the business environment.

The time to start planning is now, learn how TappIn is the best solution to access and share sensitive data anytime, anywhere

BRAG ALERT! GlobalSCAPE was recently named a “champion” and “exemplary performer” in both security strength and ad-hoc file transfer capabilities for TappIn (formerly HomePipe) and GlobalSCAPE’s EFT Server Enterprise products.

TappIn gives you fast access to all your content from any mobile device without paying for cloud storage.  Get a 30 Day Risk Free Trial Now!