Partner Article

Shared responsibility and security in the cloud

Perfect Image delivers tailored solutions and services to organisations across the UK, helping them to improve their businesses through the effective use of IT. Tom Hill, Infrastructure Consultant at the IT consultancy, discusses the issues of security in the cloud and how through shared responsibility, Perfect Image is helping its customers’ infrastructure to be safe and secure.

We’re starting to witness a tipping point in the market place when it comes to true cloud, where more and more companies are beginning to realise the business benefits to be had from this type of IT infrastructure. Yet while an ever-growing number of business owners and key decision makers see the advantages of true cloud, we know some people still have reservations, and their number one concern is often security.

AWS has a wealth of stamps and seals of approval such as ISO 27001 and PCI DSS Level 1, verifying the company’s credentials as one of the safest providers of computing and storage services, with a wealth of global security and compliance expertise.

However, while true cloud providers like AWS do their bit to keep your IT safe and secure, as with any IT system, you also need to take your share of responsibility too. In fact, this is known as the ‘Shared Responsibility Model’, and it’s also where the team of infrastructure experts at Perfect Image comes in.

Shared Responsibility means that AWS implements and operates security of the cloud, so that the AWS environment is totally safe and secure. However, as an AWS user, you’re building systems on top of the true cloud infrastructure, and therefore the security responsibilities are shared. This means you are responsible for the security of the different elements of your IT systems that you put in the cloud. This could include operating systems, networks and firewall configurations, as well as platforms, applications and access management.

At Perfect Image, we take the worry out of this for our customers; we offer an end-to-end true cloud service known as Managed AWS. It’s a unique offering that not only provides the flexibility, scalability and power of the world’s leading cloud platform but also allows us to make sure that the solution is right for you and your business – and the security of your IT systems is paramount to us.

We will architect and manage your systems to ensure that you use the cloud in a safe and secure way. Essentially, we retain control of the security measures we implement on your behalf to protect your IT systems, just as you would do had you chosen to host your infrastructure in a datacentre environment.

So while AWS experts look after the cloud, our experts will look after you and make sure that all of your systems are fully compliant, safe and secure, so you can enjoy the business benefits of true cloud computing without worry. The bottom line is, whether your IT systems are in the cloud, on premise or in a datacentre, careful consideration must be given to their security - with AWS, you can be sure you’re choosing one of the safest possible options.

For more information visit: http://www.perfect-image.co.uk/managed-services-support/amazon-web-services.aspx

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Perfect Image .