The Effects Of Cloud Computing Risk On Security And Future

The effects of Cloud Computing Risk, on the security and future

Dissertation Topic: “The effects of Cloud Computing Risk, on the security and future directions on Data Migration to deliver a service over a network.” Cloud computing represents a transformative approach to information technology, offering shared processing resources and data access over the internet. However, despite its advantages, cloud computing introduces various risks that can threaten data security, privacy, and the integrity of information systems. These risks include compliance violations, identity theft, malware infections, data breaches, and diminished customer trust, which collectively can impact an organization’s revenue and reputation. This paper explores how these risks influence cloud security and the future trajectory of data migration strategies in cloud environments.

One of the central concerns associated with cloud computing is data loss and unauthorized access. As cloud systems often transfer control from users to service providers, organizations may find it challenging to maintain oversight of their sensitive information. Myeonggil (2019) emphasizes that when security breaches occur in cloud environments, cybercriminals can gain access to intellectual property or personal data, resulting in significant financial and reputational damage. Additionally, malware infections are a persistent threat, capable of compromising data integrity and availability. Chang (2015) highlights that malware can proliferate rapidly within cloud infrastructure, especially given the volume of data stored and the reliance on internet connectivity for access and transfer.

The risk of cyber-attacks, particularly Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks, increases with the scale of cloud data storage. As these servers are exposed to potential threats via internet connections, they become attractive targets for malicious actors. Such attacks can cause service disruptions, impacting both security and service delivery. Furthermore, legal and compliance risks also pose significant challenges. The ease of access to data in the cloud complicates efforts to monitor and regulate data usage, raising concerns about adherence to regulations such as GDPR or HIPAA (Myeonggil, 2019). Organizations must develop comprehensive security policies that address cross-border data transfer issues and ensure compliance with evolving legal frameworks.

In addition to security vulnerabilities, data migration itself presents substantial challenges. The process of transferring data from traditional systems to cloud environments entails risks related to data integrity, confidentiality, and availability. Patrignani et al. (2016) note that improper migration can lead to data corruption or loss, thereby jeopardizing organizational operations. The heterogeneity of cloud providers' platforms can complicate migration, and proprietary data formats may restrict control over stored information, making it difficult for organizations to retrieve or modify their data as needed (Sharma et al., 2017). Moreover, service Level Agreements (SLAs) often lack customization to fit specific organizational needs, raising concerns about inadequate compensation in case of downtime or data loss (Tchernykh et al., 2019).

The balance between cost and security also influences migration decisions. Internal efforts to guarantee uptime and data security can be expensive, leading some organizations to prefer cloud solutions despite potential vulnerabilities. As Zelenkov (2016) discusses, organizations must weigh the benefits of scalable, flexible cloud services against the inherent risks, implementing robust security measures like encryption, multi-factor authentication, and continuous monitoring to mitigate potential threats.

The absence of standardized frameworks for ensuring data integrity across cloud platforms exacerbates migration and security challenges. Inadequate auditing capabilities and limited transparency from cloud providers can prevent organizations from verifying security compliance and detecting breaches promptly (Elzamly et al., 2019). As cloud migration accelerates, especially in sectors like banking and finance, the need for systematic, secure migration processes becomes crucial. Organizations are encouraged to employ experienced cloud providers with a proven track record of security and compliance, ensuring that their migration pathways are secure, systematic, and aligned with best practices (Zelenkov, 2016).

Conclusion

Challenging as it may be, managing the risks associated with cloud computing is pivotal for safeguarding organizational data and ensuring the reliability of cloud services. Risks such as data breaches, malware infections, regulatory non-compliance, and migration failures necessitate comprehensive security strategies, including encryption, access controls, continuous monitoring, and rigorous migration protocols. As cloud technology continues to evolve, future directions should focus on establishing universal standards for data integrity and security, along with transparent, customizable service level agreements tailored to organizational needs. Investing in skilled cloud providers and adhering to emerging best practices will be essential in optimizing the benefits of cloud computing while minimizing the associated risks.

References

• Chang, H. (2015). Data protection regulation and cloud computing. Privacy and Legal Issues in Cloud Computing, 26-42. doi:10.4337/.00009
• Elzamly, A., Messabia, N., Doheir, M., Abu Naser, S., & Elbaz, H. A. (2019). Critical Cloud Computing Risks for Banking Organizations: Issues and Challenges. Revista de Ciencias Sociales y Humanidades, 4(18).
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• Myeonggil, C. (2019). The security risks of cloud computing. 2019 IEEE International Conference on Computational Science and Engineering (CSE) and IEEE International Conference on Embedded and Ubiquitous Computing (EUC).
• Patrignani, N., De Marco, M., Fakhoury, R., & Cavallari, M. (2016). Cloud computing: risks and opportunities for corporate social responsibility. In Information and Communication Technologies in Organizations and Society (pp. 23-32). Springer, Cham.
• Sharma, M., Husain, S., & Ali, S. (2017). Cloud computing risks and recommendations for security. International Journal of Latest Research in Science and Technology, 6(1), 52-56.
• Tchernykh, A., Schwiegelsohn, U., Talbi, E. G., & Babenko, M. (2019). Towards understanding uncertainty in cloud computing with risks of confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Journal of Computational Science, 36, 100581.
• Zelenkov, Y. A. (2016). Towards a quantitative model of cloud computing risks and benefits. Вестник Рязанского государственного университетa: Вестник МатЕматика и Информатика, 5(2).