Here’s why we’re wary of clouds…
The pros and cons of cloud computing
Didier Dubois & Emilie Pelletier
In the last few months, there has been a real war of clouds. All the big players are going there with their solution to let us store our data online. In fact, with the advent of tablets and portable computers, we are steadily returning to a system of terminals. Our equipment will be equipped with an operating system, but all the rest, our data and applications, will be elsewhere, in this case, online. The Office suite (1) and Adobe (2) products (PhotoShop, Illustrator, etc.) are already offered in SaaS mode, Software as a Service (3), so you can rent and use the software online rather than having to buy them and install them on your PC. But the battle will take place on another field, that of data. In an increasingly digital world, the proliferation of information in digital form is opening the door to a new Klondike: control of data storage.
However, online data storage raises some questions and many internet experts are already pointing out that beyond the huge opportunity offered by online storage, it is important to be aware of certain adverse effects inherent in the concept of cloud computing. So, for storage in the cloud, for or against? Here are some things to help you form your own opinion.
Clouds, what a beautiful invention!
Of course, online storage has many benefits. The first is undoubtedly the accessibility of data. With the cloud, it doesn’t matter where you are, no matter if you are browsing with a laptop, tablet or cell phone, you have access to your data. Are you with friends and want to show them photos of your youngest child? No problem, connect online and there he is. Are you travelling for work and want to access a report to edit it? With an internet connection, it’s possible. You’re travelling in the south and you realize that you forgot to send an offer of services to an important customer. No problem, you can do it from any computer anywhere, provided there is the internet. Presented like this, the cloud is good, right?
The usability of online services must also be emphasized. The interface often looks like the file management interface found on Windows or Mac computers. No need for extensive reading to master the platform. The fact that the data is elsewhere doesn’t change anything about the functionality, nor the method for manipulating the data. The cloud is beautiful and simple!
In addition, there is a growing number of data types to store in digital format: our photos, films, music, files, etc. In short, we will need more and more storage space. With the cloud, you will not need to change your hard drive. For $5 to $10 per month, your suppliers will provide you with extra space.
….but clouds often announce the coming of storms!
The concept of security is, without any doubt, the major problem in our opinion. Even if computer experts tell us that cloud computing servers are shielded (4), when it is known that young (brilliant) hackers (5) were able to hack into the Pentagon, it’s not very reassuring. Of course, you will tell us that hackers have no have an interest in stealing your data (your photos of Mexico don’t interest them… unless you are a star). It’s clear that hackers have little or no interest in stealing data from your home PC. It would be a lot of work for not very much, On the other hand, stealing data from an online storage service, even if more secure, is much more profitable. A lot of effort, for sure, but for a lot of data. This is an issue that should be considered in our recruitment practices. Remember that the Monster database was hacked on two occasions in 2007 and 2009 (6). And even when it is not hacking, there can be errors that, given the online storage, have major consequences. So, in 2009, some CVs held by the Marmen Company in Trois-Rivières were found freely accessible online due to a programming error by their computing applications provider (7).
The other issue of cloud computing is the ownership of data (8). At the beginning of May, Google launched its new Google Drive data storage service. A careful reading of the service agreement shows that Google is very clear to the effect that:
When you upload or otherwise submit content to our Services, you give Google (and those we work with) a worldwide license to use, host, store, reproduce, modify, create derivative works (such as those resulting from translations, adaptations or other changes we make so that your content works better with our Services), communicate, publish, publicly perform, publicly display and distribute such content. (9)
Of course, Google has other things to do than go through your data to find exploitable secrets, but with a license like this, they are given the right to do almost anything with our data. It is still worrysome, isn’t it?
Finally, what happens if your online data storage services are… sold to another company? Facebook for example. We know, in the 2.0 world, we are living through a market structuring and the big fish are currently eating the little fish. Would you be comfortable with Facebook collecting all your data by acquiring the current cloud computing supplier?
So the clouds… they’re beautiful, but we still have to be a bit careful :0) !
1- http://www.microsoft.com/office/olsb/Splitter-FR-CA.html
2- http://www.adobe.com/products/creativecloud/tools.html
3- http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logiciel_en_tant_que_service
4- http://affaires.lapresse.ca/portfolio/infonuagique/201202/21/01-4498308-le-nuage-big-brother-et-vous.php
5- http://www.lemondeinformatique.fr/actualites/lire-tinkode-le-pirate-de-la-nasa-et-du-pentagone-arrete-en-roumanie-47828.html
6- http://www.pcinpact.com/news/48663-monster-piratage-base-donnees-voler.htm
7- http://www.lapresse.ca/le-nouvelliste/actualites/200907/28/01-887804-des-cv-accidentellement-affiches-sur-le-web.php
8- http://www.zdnet.fr/actualites/a-quel-point-google-drive-est-il-proprietaire-de-vos-donnees-39771132.htm
9- https://www.google.com/intl/fr/policies/terms/