By removing most of the initial up-front costs, the Cloud Computing allows small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) to enter almost any sector and compete with larger rivals. More and more businesses are experiencing cloud technology as a powerhouse tool for developing new strategies and finding new customers. Are those businesses prepared to face the risks that cloud entails? Cloud Service Customers (CSCs) like SMEs still need to understand the security and risk management changes the cloud involve.
CloudWATCH2, with the D3.2 Risk Based Decision Making Mechanism For Cloud Service In The Public Sector, proposes an initial version of a risk-profiling methodology for non-expert SMEs and PAs willing to adopt cloud services.
In this section you'll find a collection of reports and papers which highlight the risks related to the cloud adoption by SMEs.
More and more small businesses are using the cloud to access markets more quickly, scale and grow without initial up-front costs needed for tradition IT infrastructures. Organisations that are not using the cloud need to start their cloud journey as soon as possible, particularly small and medium-sized businesses.
For the past few years everyone has marked-out a constant increase in public and private clouds. Whether to adopt a public cloud approach (off-premise IT capability or application, provided by others) or go for private cloud (on-premise enablement of cloud possibilities with existing IT) has always been an incensed topic for debate throughout the IT industry and the business.
As with many other areas of business, success in the financial industry - in all its forms - involves a degree of prediction. Today, with the growth of analytics technology, prediction is becoming both more accurate and faster than ever before.
Top 8 Reasons to Move Your Business to the Cloud
The atmosphere in the wide world of small business is getting “cloudy,” but that’s just fine because this cloud is actually a silver lining that delivers bright and good tidings.
CloudingSMEs takes a comprehensive approach to the use of cloud computing by SMEs, which considers both the supply side (i.e. results and endeavors of ICT SMEs with expertise on cloud computing) and the demand side (i.e. the adoption and use of cloud computing technologies by SMEs).
CloudCatalyst aims to provide useful tools to foster the adoption of cloud computing in Europe. The project will set up a cross-border support service, contributing to strengthening European position in the Cloud Computing market, including the European software industry for both businesses and consumers.
Cloud-based business is becoming the backbone of the European economy and society. Many services are based on the Cloud and several businesses and critical infrastructures are becoming increasingly dependent on it.
Overall, the speed of change in Cloud technologies and services continues to be impressive and the main transformation is driven by the Trusted Cloud and Big Data integration as visible in the Future Cloud high impact initiative: Trusted Cloud.
Looking at news media, one cannot avoid the feeling that there is a real war going on the internet, with several active forces: armies, of course, but also raiders looking for easy money, wannabe pirates, professional and well determined attackers as well as absolute beginners without a clue. All provided with very effective weapons, compared to defences not always up to the menace.
The biggest perceived barriers for both consumer and SME take-up of cloud computing are lack of privacy, data security, provider lock-in, lack of standardisation, and jurisdictional issues relating to applicable law and law enforcement access to data.
Cloud computing is one of the strategic digital technologies considered important enablers for productivity and better services. The most substantial impact of cloud technology could come in the cost savings and increased competitiveness of IT services available to public and private organisations, as well as opportunities leading to new services, but cloud technology could positvely increase other benefits for end users.
The cloud is the great equalizer for today’s startups. It is one of the few areas where a startup can access the same resources as large corporations. When you are thinking about starting a new business, there are a lot of factors and decisions at play that can seem overwhelming. But there are some basic guidelines that will help you maximize the value of the cloud, approaching it strategically to tap into its full power.
A brief introduction into the top cloud risks according to the European Network and Information Security Agency. This is part of CCSK (Certificate of Cloud Security Knowledge).
Learn more on risks such as:
Businesses, public entities and EU citizens are eager to go-to-the-cloud, and, at this stage, ICT providers and other Cloud stakeholders have the means to fulfil the demand needs, but t
Franklin D. Roosevelt once said: ‘The only thing we have to fear is...fear itself,’ and this certainly seems to be true in the case of cloud adoption.
New research from Databarracks found that the perceived security threats associated with cloud suddenly abate once an organisation adopts a couple of cloud-based services.
The Data Health Check report, which surveyed over 400 IT decision makers across the UK, found that 81% of organisations with no cloud services at all rated security as a top factor to consider.
ENISA, supported by a group of subject matter expert comprising representatives from Industries, Academia and Governmental Organizations, has conducted, in the context of the Emerging and Future Risk Framework project, an risks assessment on cloud computing business model and technologies. The result is an in-depth and independent analysis that outlines some of the information security benefits and key security risks of cloud computing.
CloudWATCH and CloudingSMEs are both funded by the European Commission to raise awareness of cloud computing in order to increase adoption in Europe.
Users believe that few cloud apps are used by employees and BYOD devices, while other studies noted show that hundreds of cloud apps are in use within each enterprise today. This tells us that cloud application discovery tools and analytical tools on cloud app policy use and restrictions are crucial in the workplace, especially when it comes to sensitive data being used by these cloud applications. With sensitive data being uploaded and shared by these apps with authorized and unauthorized users, policy enforcement becomes a major role in protecting your data.
CSA'a survey was circulated to over 165 IT and security professionals in the U.S. and around the globe representing a variety of industry verticals and enterprise sizes. The goal was to understand their perception of how their enterprises are using cloud apps, what kind of data are moving to and through those apps, and what that means in terms of risks.
The new tools and services offered by the cloud can streamline and improve businesses operations and means even the smallest company can compete on a global scale.
By Sureyya Cansoy, Director, Tech for Business and Consumer, techUK
Copyright 2016 CloudWATCH2 has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 programme - DG CONNECT Software & Services, Cloud. Contract No. 644748
