How to Protect Intellectual Property in Cloud Storage?
Many firms must know how to protect Intellectual Property on the cloud. In terms of such data, handing it over to any 3rd-party apps, specifically the most critical data, and sensitive information, is, for sure, a hazardous proposition. Cloud data storage usually creates many unique concerns for management as such intellectual property, which is stored over the cloud. Limitations in terms of the budget, along with the exponential volume of data, have been encouraging most firms to look for slightly more cost-effective options for cloud data storage. Cloud data storage has certain benefits over conventional ways of storing data in-house, like agility, fast processing, and safer replicas storage for quick data retrieval whenever needed.
The capability of uploading/extracting uploaded data from various locations, as well as the ability to effortlessly merge many information sources, certainly makes cloud data storage a well-logical data storage facility used for backing up and arching data. This relatively more cost-effective cloud storage facility seems to be a greater incentive than buying more expensive in-house data storage devices.
But cloud storage doesn’t always make a suitable solution for confidential data storage, specifically for proprietary Research & Development data or Intellectual Property per se. At times, such crucial data remains available to be viewed by others, thus jeopardizing any company’s trade secrets as well as intellectual property.
Factors Responsible for Storing Intellectual Property on Cloud
Public Disclosure of Critical Data
Unintentional public disclosure of sensitive information and confidential data, which is stored over commercial cloud-based storage facilities, becomes even more prevalent. Such types of disclosures might lead to loss of current or maybe future IP data rights.
Data Privacy
Users using any of the cloud services mustn’t assume that their uploaded proprietary data and R&D information, including confidential info and sensitive data, has been thus stored in a very secure environment meeting their proclaimed privacy policies. If any cloud service user has specified that data could be utilized for one particular purpose, then that assurance must be upheld by his cloud service provider.
Secondary Use of Crucial Data
Most cloud service vendors usually have complete access to clients’ data, which can even lead to that data being mined by those cloud providers only or by other outsiders. Some cloud providers also claim usage rights on such uploaded data, including pictures, presentations, etc., and this can result in public disclosures of that data.
Jurisdiction
In cases of confidentiality breach, users must ensure that any of the services thus deployed to the cloud are used as per laws & regulations about their locations. So, this primary location of data and its backup locations must be in the knowledge of the users.
Tips for Avoiding Unintentional Public Disclosure of Intellectual Property
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Contracts
Users of cloud services must check their deals with their cloud service providers before agreeing up to their terms.
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Cloud Security Measures
Users of cloud services must ensure that their cloud service providers are having enough cloud storage security measures, including primary data locations and data backup locations. Cloud provides controls, as well as procedures, must be complying with local, regional laws where cloud servers are located. Also, it must check compliance with some international standards like SOC2, etc., determining security, process integrity, availability, data privacy, and confidentiality of data servers.
Data Backups
Users of cloud services must not be relying only on the cloud service providers’ backups and must ensure regular backups of data on their own also. Such types of data backups are highly crucial in case the cloud providers go out of business, or in case data centers become inoperable.
Securing Data
Users of cloud services must not be replying altogether to their cloud service provider for cloud security. It must also consider other options to add that extra layer of data security by using the very efficient CASB solutions for securing their critical data residing over cloud networks.