Security of the SaaS Platform

Choosing between SaaS and the boxed program, you need to consider 2 factors: technical security issues and psychological readiness to start working with the cloud.

We analyzed the reasons for companies’ wary attitude towards SaaS and identified a number of typical fears:

The cloud is an unreliable thing, the functioning of my company will depend entirely on the availability of an Internet connection.

Data in the cloud may suddenly disappear, I will lose the contacts of all my clients and I can not influence this in any way. It is safer to have your own server with the installed program, standing under the table in the accounting department.

By transferring data to a SaaS platform located in the cloud, I increase the risk that data will become available to my competitors.

Data from the cloud can be stolen by hackers / or a solution provider and sold to my competitors.

It’s Cheaper to Buy the Program Once than to Pay Regularly for Using SaaS.

In most cases, these concerns are caused by a misunderstanding of the nature of the cloud. Let’s get it right.

Dependence on the availability of Internet connection.

Indeed, when working with the cloud, an Internet connection is required. But it is worth noting that systems designed to work with the cloud are initially optimized to minimize the amount of data transferred. Even if your usual connection to the Network is unavailable, you can use a mobile modem from one of the mobile operators or the Internet distributed from your mobile phone, without any special financial risks. At the same time, the transition to a backup connection will practically not affect the speed of work with the system.

Data in the Cloud may Suddenly Disappear.

In fact, the data in the cloud is not stored in the air – physically it is stored and processed on servers similar to those that you would use to install the program in your office, only much more powerful and high-quality. These servers are installed in data centers, like 4d-dc.com, certified according to Tier 4, which means full backup of power, air conditioning, and Internet connection, which allows for their continuous operation 24/7/365.

Moreover, information is copied immediately to several data centers, which guarantees its safety even in the event of a complete stop of one of the data centers. If all data centers fail, you will still have access to your data: all user information is regularly (at least 1 time per day) archived to external media and can be quickly restored. The staff of highly qualified engineers is responsible for this.

My cloud Data is Available to my Competitors.

In addition to the physical protection of information (the location of data centers in secure premises with video surveillance and limited access by people), cloud systems protect data during transmission. To do this, use a secure https protocol that encrypts traffic.

In addition, SaaS platforms tightly share data access. This means that access to the data of your Company will be granted only to your employees in accordance with the access rights that are assigned to them to perform their functions.

Data from the Cloud Can be Easily Stolen and Sold to Competitors.

The security systems of data centers are set up by experienced teams of engineers who regularly test the system and quickly install security updates issued by developers of operating systems.

According to InfoWatch statistics, in the first half of 2019, 925 incidents involving the loss of confidential information occurred worldwide. Of these, due to internal violations (for example, through the fault of employees of companies that accidentally or intentionally disclosed confidential information), 57% of leaks occurred. In 53% of cases, line employees of the companies were found guilty of information leakage. In 2% of cases – top managers of organizations and other privileged users.

Do you still think that the server installed under the desk in the accounting department and serviced by one administrator is the best place to store information critical for business?

SaaS is More Expensive Than the Boxed Version.

According to a study by TomTom Telematics, 57% of European companies over the past 5 years have invested in technologies that were not subsequently used at full capacity / were used to a limited extent.

The likelihood that the new product will not take root is quite high, and the money invested in the purchase of the program can no longer be returned. It should be borne in mind that when buying a boxed solution, expenses for the purchase of server equipment, licenses for related software (operating systems, cartography) are added to the costs, perhaps the salary of the employee who will service the new equipment.

Serious initial investments are not required to start working with SaaS, you only need an Internet connection. You pay only for the volume of SaaS that you plan to use, and the size of the monthly payment is scaled after your business.

It should also be noted that the business environment is constantly on the move, market expectations are changing, new regulatory acts appear, new technologies become available and it is important that the solution used is always up to date.

Regarding the psychological aspect, SaaS has long been around us. Each of us somehow stores / exchanges information using the cloud. And if you think that you have never encountered a cloud, remember when you last sent the scan of the contract or a copy of the passport by email, or how your photos got from your smartphone to a personal computer