It's the topic on every CIO’s lips at the moment: Cyber Security. With concepts like Big Data and Cloud Computing floating around, how can a Chief Information Officer feel secure with his information floating up in the tech sky? Without physical presence of information or infrastructure, IT managers may not feel at ease when it comes to information security. Businesses rely heavily on accessible but protected information. Data breaches and information hacks can cost companies not only millions of dollars, but their reputations as well. Downtime can result in loss of business as well as loss of loyal customers and their trust. Having a reliable data hosting solution is a huge step toward information security. However, all possible threats must be identified in order to prevent any possible breaches or hacking scenarios.

Famously, a data breach at Target headquarters resulted in a huge hit for the retail giant in 2013. All 1,300 locations suffered in the Christmas shopping season (November 27-December 15 to be exact). As a result, Target ended up being liable for $10 million in damages. Currently, the battle between Apple and the US Government is a reflection on this exact issue. The US Government has court-ordered Apple to unlock an iPhone used in a United States Domestic Terrorism attack. Apple’s refusal of this order is an example of personal security being protected. Apple’s website states:

“While we believe the FBI’s intentions are good, it would be wrong for the government to force us to build a backdoor into our products. And ultimately, we fear that this demand would undermine the very freedoms and liberty our government is meant to protect.”

Additionally, an article on Information Week’s website, by Charles Babcock, mentions “It might take an attacker years to crack an encryption key using his own limited hardware. But using an array of cloud servers, he might be able to crack it in minutes.” In order for a company to trust their cloud provider, there must be a clear understanding of what is at stake. A cloud provider or IT management company needs to take full accountability for all assets and information. Making sure all information and data is accounted for, securely protected, and accessible only to those who have correct permissions. Data breaches and cloud hackings run rampant. Costly mistakes are made and companies suffer all the time. However, being informed and educated can help prevent disasters. By choosing a reputable, trustworthy company for your IT needs, you can be assured your information is protected and secure.