{"id":2634,"date":"2016-08-26T12:48:04","date_gmt":"2016-08-26T12:48:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.comparehris.com\/blog\/?p=2634"},"modified":"2016-08-26T12:48:04","modified_gmt":"2016-08-26T12:48:04","slug":"making-leap-cloud-steps-keeping-data-safe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.comparehris.com\/blog\/making-leap-cloud-steps-keeping-data-safe\/","title":{"rendered":"Making the Leap to Cloud? Six Steps to Keeping Your Data Safe"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Cloud<\/a>Does your HR department operate in the cloud? If not, you are in the minority, according to the 2015 North Bridge Future of Cloud Computing Survey<\/a>. The survey reports that an astonishing 73.5% of HR and payroll activities are performed in the cloud. That number is extraordinary, especially considering that just five years ago the HR industry ranked as the third least likely to migrate to the cloud.<\/p>\n

But with that increased usage comes a corresponding increase in concerns about security. With data breaches holding the potential to put financial information, health records, and trade secrets at risk, companies need a robust risk management plan to effectively manage access and train employees in data safety.<\/p>\n

Is Your Data Safe?<\/h2>\n

Cloud computing has historically been viewed with trepidation by many organizations, so much so that CIO put out a list last year of 20 common cloud security myths<\/a> based on the experience of industry experts. Among those myths are the ideas that the cloud is inherently insecure, that it is less secure than an on-premise solution, and that cloud security is the sole responsibility of the provider.<\/p>\n

The reality is far more nuanced than that. Because cloud has become so pervasive, it\u2019s nearly impossible to avoid outside threats altogether. The key is to develop internal processes and policies designed to minimize the threats<\/a> that still create very real security risks for companies operating in the cloud.<\/p>\n

It’s About Access, Not Location<\/h2>\n

Experts argue that security is less about where you store your data and more about how you manage access. On-premise servers face just as many security threats as cloud-based solutions do, and in many cases they have fewer security protocols in place. But even with the most conscientious cloud provider, it\u2019s still up to each organization to protect data from a standpoint of access and management. Here\u2019s how:<\/p>\n