Regulatory compliance in the cloud - overcoming the fear

Firms are eager to migrate data processes and storage to the cloud, as it allows them to create IT systems without having to invest heavily in IT infrastructure and staff. However, as governments all over the world create more and more data privacy and security regulations, the costs and inconveniences of compliance are rising.
 
In the United States, for instance, states are separately introducing their own policies, making compliance difficult for companies that do business across state lines. Obviously, this problem is compounded for multinational corporations, as these have to contend with different laws in different nations. Despite increasing complexity and costs, however, there is nothing to fear — provided that you keep a level head and strategize properly.
 

Make the most of your existing infrastructure as you take advantage of external resources

You don’t necessarily have to shift everything off-premises when you already have in-house servers and network infrastructure. In-house servers tend to feel safer for your mission-critical data and apps than public ones because you get to exercise more control over your IT assets and avoid third-party vulnerabilities — vulnerabilities such as exposure to data breaches or unsecured application programming interfaces that you have little to no control over. However, the trade-off for having greater control is that you have to take on the costs of maintenance and have system administrators monitoring internal systems.
 
If you don’t have machines in-house but still feel the need to have high degrees of exclusivity for some of your apps and data, rent your very own hosted private cloud instead. You’ll avoid the costs of ownership and take advantage of the cloud service provider’s (CSP) economies of scale. You can even find providers that can help you be compliant with industry- and region-specific regulations (such as HIPAA for the former and GDPR for the latter).
 
The key to regulatory compliance — and ultimately data security — is knowing what to keep in-house and what to offload to public clouds. Work with a CSP with experience in implementing hybrid cloud setups to enjoy the benefits of on-premises, hosted private, and public clouds while minimizing the risks of each.
 

A hybrid cloud solution can unify disparate systems and simplify compliance

Despite misgivings about the public cloud’s vulnerabilities, having processes and data storage there can actually be (as opposed to just feel) more cost-effective, secure, and compliant with data security laws than handling IT processes in-house. This is due to 1) the sector enhancing its technology as a response and preparation for both threats and regulations; and 2) providers further specializing in industries and localities to better fulfill compliance requirements.
 
In the meantime, a hybrid cloud setup can be the transition towards a full migration towards hosted clouds.
 
To help you meet compliance requirements, your CSP must:
 
●      Set up continuous monitoring mechanisms that incorporate cybersecurity protocols, corporate governance, and regulatory compliance controls.
●      Build and maintain a framework that unifies and aligns the entire organization on properly using cloud services — i.e., in a way that complies with regulations.
●      Create dashboards that let managers and compliance officers look into how teams and departments are doing compliance-wise.
●      Set up alert and response protocols when control and compliance failures occur within the organization and/or third-party providers.
●      Always sync new cloud services and features with regulations requirements, and vice versa — i.e., always sync cloud services with new or revised regulations.
 
Don’t let increasing complexities caused by regulations keep you away from enjoying the benefits of the cloud. As our name suggests, we at SimplyClouds keep the cloud simple: you enjoy the perks, we handle the hassle. Contact us to learn more about our effective cloud solutions.