Cloud Computing: Is it safe? by Aubrey Halman

Cloud-based computing is on the rise, even in your local library. It has become so second nature that many people don’t even realize that the information they are researching, or the eBooks they are borrowing from their local libraries, aren’t being stored in some database in the library but rather in an off-site, remote server. The benefits of libraries switching to cloud services are “backup, 24/7 technical support, and the capacity to add space as projects increase in size” (Shaw, 2022). Whereas the physical collection in the library can only grow to its capacity and materials must constantly be weeded from the collection to support the addition of new materials, the digital collections housed on cloud servers don’t face this same space constraint. But as we continue to move more and more to the cloud, the debate over the safety of cloud computing continues as well. Some will argue that the cloud isn’t safe from cyberattacks, and while this may be true, that doesn’t mean that cloud computing should be avoided at all costs. Andrew Burger argues in his 2016 article that cloud-based computing is safe and will continue to get even safer. In his article, Burger writes “cloud computing and data storage service providers such as Amazon Web Services, Google, Microsoft, OpenStack and IT virtualization specialist VMWare employ the best and brightest IT security experts and devote significant portions of their huge budgets to ensure they are using the latest threat monitoring and cloud security solutions available.” (2014) While threats can still happen on the cloud, they can just as easily happen if you don’t use cloud-based services. However, in this day and age, you are more likely to be using the cloud than not. At least knowing that the companies hosting your cloud servers are employing the best security experts and are utilizing the latest cloud security solutions should make you feel safer. It’s not like the days of LimeWire, where every file you downloaded could have malware hidden in it. Your email, work documents, school work, and even YouTube and Netflix bring you the files you need via cloud-based storage. Technology advances everyday, and so does the security behind it.

 

Works Cited

Burger, Andrew. "Cloud Computing Services Are Safe and Likely to Get Safer." The Impact of the Tech Giants, edited by Jack Lasky, Greenhaven Press, 2016. Opposing Viewpoints. Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints, link.gale.com/apps/doc/EJ3010990217/OVIC?u=cclc_palomar&sid=bookmark-OVIC&xid=1001820d. Accessed 16 May 2025. Originally published as "Storing Data in the Cloud: How Safe Is It?" www.triplepundit.com, 23 July 2014.

Shaw, Marie Keen. Using Digital Information Services in the Library Workplace : An Introduction for Support Staff. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2022. EBSCOhost, research.ebsco.com/linkprocessor/plink?id=4d768708-f373-3b2f-98e0-33bf1d7577df.