What is the Cloud? We hear about it a lot. We see references to it in commercials and ads. Well, to put it simply, the Cloud is a concept. A name given to the global network of remote servers, which operates as a single “ecosystem”. When we’re talking about the Cloud, we’re not referring to any one company or a website, we’re talking about the massive and ever-changing landscape of the internet.
So, what all does it do? Essentially, any application or service that can be accessed across multiple devices can find use in the Cloud. One common example of this is the music app Spotify. Nearly everyone I know, including myself, has a Spotify account.
According to a Google case study of Spotify, the popular app became a customer in 2016 in order to give themselves an edge over other music streaming sites. By relying on Google’s Cloud network to automate certain aspects of the business, the developers could turn their attention more toward the customer-centric side of things. That has given Spotify a much faster response rate to customer concerns and care, which has led to an ever-evolving system that has turned it into the lead app in music streaming. It’s easy to say that it wouldn’t be nearly as efficient without the Cloud. And personally, I have never had any concerns about the security side of things.
Security does come into question when banking comes up, however. More and more, we’re seeing online banking options, which immediately makes people question the safety measures. If the Cloud is used to store all our information, how can we be sure that it’s safe? What are the benefits of banking with the Cloud?
There are many different factors to take into consideration when it comes to the Cloud and security. You’re prompted to make a strong password, avoid using public Wifi when accessing sensitive information, etc. Conversely, when banking online, you can make use of facial recognition or fingerprint tech in order to keep unwanted eyes from seeing your important information. Some banks even have a virtual card option, which can be used for any online purchase. The card itself is assigned a random sequence of letters and numbers, versus having to use your actual card number, and you can even put limits on how much can be used on your virtual card.
All these added safety measures feel like a benefit unto themselves, but in addition to that, you can also access all your banking information 24/7, make use of budget tools provided by the online service, and have immediate access to representatives if anything ever comes up. And whether or not everyone is convinced the online/Cloud option is safe enough, the march toward digital conversion is becoming inevitable. Online banking is too convenient, and it’s giving banks that offer it a clear edge over their competitors.
Works Cited
https://cloud.google.com/customers/spotify
https://blog.stormid.com/7-cloud-computing-security-measures-to-take-now/