Opportunities to sell cloud-based services are everywhere. However, in order to be successful in capitalizing on this inevitable shift, integrators should get a better grasp of the fallacies often conveyed about cloud-based security systems and services.
They will also then need to learn to recognize the opportunities that make cloud services a viable strategy for business expansion.
Every time new technologies emerge, speculations and opinions about associated impending risks and rewards circulate discussion platforms, offices and show floors. While everybody is busy weighing in on the matter, it is only normal for misconceptions to be formed along the way.
Here are the top five fallacies facing the security industry about the cloud and reasons why there are far more opportunities than risks.
It’s All Cloud or No Cloud
Having an entire security system running in the cloud is not the only option when considering cloud-based solutions. Customers with on-site servers who are looking to scale their system while minimizing costs, can investigate hybrid cloud applications.
For instance, customers with multiple locations can use physical servers at larger sites and then implement cloud-based solutions at the smaller locations where space and costs of additional hardware might pose issues.
All video and data from each system can be brought back to a central location, allowing all systems to be monitored and managed as one. At larger enterprise or government installations, hybrid storage solutions can also be deployed, where cloud-based solutions function in tandem with traditional server-based installations.
Generally, the hybrid cloud model offers greater scalability or the adoption of specific uses for each storage solution such as having long-term archives in the cloud, and more recent archives stored on local servers.
Leveraging the benefits of public data centers to expand the capabilities of existing on-premise servers offers organizations the flexibility to gradually expand at their own pace, thus becoming a simple and cost-effective transition to the cloud.
Storing Data in the Cloud Is Not Safe
Oftentimes, customers think because data is stored in a server bank outside of their own office, this automatically means it is more susceptible to unwanted access and as a result, risk.
However, ensuring high levels of security and privacy has nothing to do with where the data is physically stored, but more to do with having the proper security mechanisms in place.
Encrypted communications, data protection capabilities and strong user authentication and password protection are key features for any cloud-based system.
Also, many of the tier-one cloud providers have implemented far more stringent security measures for their infrastructures than private organizations because they actively want to earn trust by showing customers they have proper safeguards in place.
Both from a physical and information security standpoint, top cloud providers generally seek to obtain various ISO-rated standards and certifications, which ensure their data centers are void of any external or internal risks and that data is always protected.
Cloud is Only Good for Small to Medium Businesses
Cloud-based VSaaS and ACaaS are already seen as viable and cost-effective solutions for smaller businesses, generally requiring fewer than 10 cameras or door readers. For these customers, cloud-based security solutions are an attractive alternative to eliminate significant hardware and IT costs, and reduce deployment and maintenance time.
Hosting the system in a public datacenter also ensures additional offsite redundancy, as compared to local appliances that are susceptible to theft, damage or failure.
However, larger organizations and government entities are also recognizing these advantages too but on a much bigger scale. Some large organizations can no longer manage, host or scale massive private data centers, and are looking for more cost-effective options.
For example, some large customers reach points where they outgrow their datacenter and the costs to maintain or expand their systems is no longer feasible. Governments are also implementing cloud-first policies where federal organizations must consider cloud-based options before building datacenters on premise.
Similarly, there are also customers who simply find having offsite storage more suited to their application and needs. These are just some of the factors contributing to the increased demand for cloud solutions from larger entities.
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