All cloud storage suppliers employ the same basic principle, whether it’s Amazon Web Services (AWS), Dropbox, Citrix, Microsoft, or Google – they all sync and copy to a centralized cloud server cluster via the internet. Every second, millions of people and their devices connect to these central cloud clusters to store and access files connected with their online accounts.
The cloud has been one of my generation’s biggest success stories, yet a centralized server design has flaws.
Control failure
The reliance on distant, cloud-based infrastructure entails accepting the risks associated with outsourcing everything. Even while most cloud computing platforms use best-in-class security measures, keeping sensitive data and crucial files on servers owned by third-party service providers introduces its own set of concerns. Most service providers, for example, take backups for off-line availability, resulting in several copies of content in various servers across regions and a greater threat surface.
And, while not the cloud provider’s fault, server misconfigurations resulting in data leaks have grown so routine that they no longer generate headlines. Privacy might also be an issue for the cloud. The provider, law enforcement agencies, and, in some situations, foreign countries can legally and discreetly access and exfiltrate information on a public cloud. The CLOUD Act, which was passed last year, requires cloud companies such as Amazon, Google, and others to turn over data to law enforcement if they are presented with a warrant – even if the material is kept in another country or on a different server.
Regulations like GDPR, HIPAA, SOX, and others may potentially become a barrier because actual compliance and management are outside of your control.
How does data storage centralization affect cyber security?
Unexpected costs
Adopting a pay-as-you-go cloud model can be flexible and appear to reduce hardware expenditures. However, when the total cost is calculated over time, it can prove to be costly. Constantly syncing all customers and their gadgets to the cloud can bring about higher bandwidth overhead.
Another downside of cloud computing is vendor lock-in. Switching between cloud platforms might result in increased expenditures, downtime, and configuration complexity. Compromises made during the migration process can expose you to security and privacy risks.
Failure at a single point
A recent setup problem on Google cloud servers knocked out services for up to four and a half hours, affecting major businesses such as Snapchat, Vimeo, Shopify, Discord, and Pokemon GO. Because cloud computing services are internet-based, service outages can occur at any moment and for any reason, and you have little influence over the issue. Your data may be compromised if a central controller is compromised.
Cloud decentralization
Although the current cloud model is extremely successful, a new generation of platforms intends to tackle some of the issues mentioned above by focusing on decentralizing cloud infrastructure with AI and machine learning.
Because it provides security through compartmentalization, a decentralized cloud system operates on the blockchain, making network security significantly greater than what the present infrastructure gives. Even if attackers gain access to a block of data, they cannot permeate it because it is simply a portion of a file. In addition, the design divides files into small chunks and replicates data over distributed file systems to provide redundancy across numerous nodes. While a node is hacked or introduced down, the alternative nodes maintain to characteristic, offering a failsafe that improves cloud balance.
This shift in storage models will not occur overnight. However, given the increasing volume of data and the rate at which new devices (including IoT) are being added to networks, cloud security strategies will undergo a paradigm shift. Because the storage industry is so huge, it’s possible that more enterprises will adopt a decentralized cloud computing strategy.