There are lots of advantages to cloud computing. Backing up important data makes it readily available to everyone in your company and frees up space on your servers. You most likely have several questions about cloud security and may be wondering if cloud security will protect your client’s data and adhere to HIPAA, PCI or Sarbanes-Oxley regulations.

Is your cloud storage solution following these requirements? If they don’t specify it in their privacy policies, it can be hard to tell. Let’s explore this further below.

Compliance

Security has always been an important issue and as a growing number of companies utilize the cloud for storage solutions the question arises: How secure is the cloud? Storing information in the cloud can be very economical, yet the cost for improperly handling customer data can be very high. If your organization needs to comply with regulations like HIPAA, your main dilemma is what regulations do cloud services comply with.

Who is responsible

Cloud security is paramount when handling your sensitive data, but whose responsibility is it? Should you assume that if it is not spelled out in the privacy policy, that a service provider doesn’t follow these regulations? While this is clearly the safest option, it may leave you unable to use cloud computing at all. Many services fail to provide detailed information in their privacy rules, presumably to reduce their liability. The hope is that with time cloud storage and sharing will become better self-regulated and companies will elect to reveal their individual practices to the businesses they serve. While such self-regulation is not required right now, many businesses think it is their duty to display clear warnings, explaining what they don’t provide or guarantee.

Currently there’s no law in place that requires a company to divulge these details. Cloud computing services can save your organization money while improving efficiency, but they may also risk noncompliance with privacy laws. This leaves the risk on your shoulders and it is up to you to weigh the benefits and threats for yourself. The topic of cloud security will probably be one of much debate in coming years. At the present time, the right road to travel is the one which best meets your company’s particular needs.