Cloud computing has opened the world to numerous possibilities allowing enterprises to expand and control their network remotely. From updating, sharing to storing information, cloud computing has created a shift in how organisations previously used to handle their information.
Cloud computing-based systems necessarily act as an organisation’s confidante by storing every bit of sensitive information within them. Therefore, with this shift, the question of why access control is essential for cloud security becomes somewhat apparent.
As cloud computing servers receive constant updates on the company’s financial or professional information, these servers become highly vulnerable to cyber risks.
On the contrary, while most organisations take up protective measures by placing these servers behind firewalls, unfortunately, it doesn’t truly secure the cloud. Therefore, it is somewhat crucial that access to cloud computing servers should not just be secured but also restricted in various ways.
Cloud access control provides that very control to organisations and cloud computing hosts, monitoring who has access to what data. This comes with several benefits adding up to the cloud setup’s security, integrity, and efficiency.
Importance of Cloud Access Control
Cloud computing provides organisations with a secure way of sharing information due to its remote access. With that, cloud computing provides an eased workflow along with enhanced productivity.
It generally kills the need for confining within offices to operate a business. However, these very advantages serve to be a fatal flaw within the system. Since most of the sensitive information is present within one cloud space, it makes this data vulnerable in cases of a hack attack.
Especially with the high influx of social engineering attack and insider leaks incidents, it is, therefore, crucial to strictly monitor cloud access.
Although most cloud platforms provide security options, for additional security, it is better to opt for third-party cloud access control setups.
Third-party cloud access control setups come with identification, authentication, authorisation, audit, and access approval. These safety measures help enhance the data security over cloud-based applications making cloud access control one of the critical elements to cloud security.
Why Does An Organization Need Cloud Access Control?
There are several other ways cloud access control can benefit an organisation. Here are the top reasons why an organisation needs a cloud-based access control system:
1. Flexibility
Cloud-based access control allows organisations to operate offices over multiple sites with ease. As it requires only one point of access control, access to every location and every employee will be managed from that platform.
With cloud-based access control, companies no longer have to set up separate servers for each building which in turn saves time and money spent on installing new hardware and systems.
Centrally managed and monitored access control incorporates flexibility within an organisation, providing an undue advantage over the competition. It further allows companies to create a fair business model inclined to better usage of the target group.
Apart from that, cloud servers allow users to designate different control levels to various people present within an organisation. Companies can use this to introduce ease, flexibility, and better control within the system.
2. Ease Of Access
Cloud-based access control systems are effective and allow users to act fast, specifically in guest permission cases. Since the setup is remote, it allows users to grant permissions anytime anywhere.
These setups allow Ad hoc access rights to third party providers. Such that, users can remotely provide on-site access to service technicians without physically being present there.
Additionally, cloud-based access control systems provide ultimate transparency. The access log present within the system allows authorised users to overview who accessed and unlocked which door and at what time.
Ultimately, Cloud-based access provides robust security and comfort. In cases of coming across any anomalies in access activity, it reduces time and effort to take precautionary action.
3. Robust Security
With cloud computing, most of its data is stored on a secure remote server in the cloud, which is remotely accessible to cloud owners. However, this makes the data somewhat vulnerable to hack attacks, social engineering attacks, and insider data breaches.
Amidst this cloud access control proves to be the ultimate security measure for organisations. With having a strict check over who has access to the cloud server and at what time, it is easy to detect and trace any anomalies that occur in the system and act accordingly.
Along with an improved toolset, cloud-based systems offer a complete suite of access control with specific security features that allow users to impose access restrictions. Integration of features like IP restriction, time restriction device restriction, session timeout, and a lot more ensure no room for unauthorised access.
4. Professional management
Cloud-based access control has slowly grown in popularity, and companies can use this to their advantage to attract more customers. Therefore integrating cloud-based access control would allow organisations to expand their business further.
Along with this, as mentioned above, cloud-based access control is time effective and secure. It also helps an organisation cut down costs for large data storage hardware and dedicated IT staff required to manage it.
Moreover, as cloud access control ensures that an organisation’s data remains secure while providing an edge of modernisation to it, integrating access control within the systems helps maintain the company’s integrity.
5. Customisation Opportunity
Cloud-based access control opens up new doors for customisation. By connecting to several services, organisations can optimise processes best suited for their use.
Also, in terms of security, organisations can control the level of access each employee has and what they have access to. In addition to all this, cloud access control is a remote setup, and organisations can monitor their business from anywhere.
Conclusion
Albeit cloud-based access control systems seem to be complicated, they provide a robust and secure outlook for data sharing and storage to organisations. Along with that, these systems additionally prove to be useful in expanding and controlling an organisation’s business.
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