The Digital Cloud

Examples of serious data security breaches come every few months these days. The Times Online and other sites are today reporting that hackers have managed to infiltrate the systems of monster.co.uk the popular recruitment site. The hackers have managed to get away with personal data such as names, passwords, telephone numbers and email addresses for 4.5 million people the company admitted yesterday.

Apart from the rather obvious bland statement that there is a need for better information security management, it is just this sort of event that increases a mistrust of internet services. Trust acts as a significant barrier to increased uptake of online services. This is obviously a big problem if your company business strategy is based on moving people to the cloud.

It is about trust

Trust has to be earned before people can get over the psychological barrier of letting go of their own data. I have seen this with both large companies and individuals. People argue about security etc. even when it has been quite easy to demonstrate that their data is likely to be safer in the cloud.  Trust will only be built as people begin to understand the concepts around cloud computing, the technologies involved and the benefits they bring. I see that for most organisations it will be a progression, with plenty of lessons learnt along the way.