18 Jun 2010

Third parties 'always have access to data in the cloud'

The fact that third parties will always have access to files stored in the could is one issue that many businesses need to reconcile before they turn to the technology to meet their IT infrastructure needs, it has been stated.

Andy Cordial, managing director at Origin Storage, said cloud computing is an option for many, but the fact that it will be administered by a third party provider could be a drawback that firms simply cannot get over.

He commented: "The main advantage here is control. Physical storage puts you in control and not a third party. I would always recommend physical over cloud if the data you are storing is highly sensitive."

According to Business Week, cloud computing storage solutions have cut some companies' storage costs by as much as 20 to 25 per cent.

However, a number of issues surround the technology, including data security - although file folder encryption can help in this area - and the fact that businesses are unable to have a concrete idea about where information is being stored.