Security is now a top concern for cloud storage

A global survey of 912 businesses by Barracuda Networks, Inc. reveals that although 83 percent of businesses surveyed back up some part of their data to the cloud, there is a strong reluctance to embrace the medium fully. In fact, almost half (47 percent) of respondents store less than half of their data in the cloud and almost one-fifth (17 percent) do not use cloud storage at all.

Of the companies surveyed that are using a cloud storage solution, over two-thirds (69 percent) consider the data they store there as sensitive. However, almost one-fifth (16 percent) of companies surveyed have experienced problems with their cloud provider. Of these, 42 percent had found that the data held by their cloud provider was not secure. Meanwhile, 40 percent claimed that data held in the cloud had not been available when needed and over one-third (37 percent) said their cloud provider had actually lost their data.

Further, approximately 89 percent of the firms surveyed cited the security credentials of their cloud provider as important or very important. Respondents said that they are more than twice as likely (53 percent vs. 23 percent) to trust a security vendor than a storage vendor to keep their data safe in the cloud.

Wieland Alge, VP & GM manager EMEA, Barracuda, comments: "Businesses are under no illusion that if they're going to put sensitive data into the cloud, security must be at the top of their agenda. The most trusted cloud providers will be those perceived as having the most secure credentials - credentials that can be earned by the integrity and reputation of the technology brands these providers use to protect their customer data."