Is Your Company's Data Safe in the Cloud? (Infographic) Despite the risks, more than half of all U.S. businesses are trusting the cloud. Where does yours stack up?

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

At this point it probably goes without saying that cloud services are becoming crazy popular. So much so, more than half of all U.S. businesses use some form of it. Whether managed internally or contracted to a third party like Google or Amazon, cloud services allow businesses to manage their information and files in one location that's easy to access and secure.

But exactly how secure is the cloud? Even if your IT staff or service provider is vigilantly securing your cloud with the latest safety measures and security systems, cloud storage can still be risky business. Everything is hackable. Nothing is breach-proof.

Related: Why You Shouldn't Be Afraid of the Cloud

Tech giant Dell recently surveyed 200 IT managers in the United Kingdom about their use and understanding of the cloud. Based on the results, the company put together the infographic below, which looks at three critical areas of cloud security: Virtual Private Networks (VPN, which allows a computer or a Wi-Fi-enabled device to send and receive data securely across a shared or public network), bring your own device (BYOD) policies and a Domain Name System (DNS, the system that Internet domain names and addresses are tracked and regulated by).

So, the question is obvious: How safe is your cloud?

Click to Enlarge+
Is Your Company's Data Safe in the Cloud? (Infographic)

Related: Why Uncovering a Network Security Breach Can Take Weeks or Months

Kim Lachance Shandrow

Former West Coast Editor

Kim Lachance Shandrow is the former West Coast editor at Entrepreneur.com. Previously, she was a commerce columnist at Los Angeles CityBeat, a news producer at MSNBC and KNBC in Los Angeles and a frequent contributor to the Los Angeles Times. She has also written for Government Technology magazine, LA Yoga magazine, the Lowell Sun newspaper, HealthCentral.com, PsychCentral.com and the former U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. C. Everett Coop. Follow her on Twitter at @Lashandrow. You can also follow her on Facebook here

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Business News

Walmart Is Laying Off Hundreds, Relocating Others as the Company Closes a U.S. Office

Walmart is giving some employees at least a month to decide if they want to relocate.

Starting a Business

Why Psychological Courage Is the Secret Ingredient for Successful Startups

This article explores the concept of psychological courage in startups, highlighting how employees — not just founders — can develop resilience, face challenges head-on and thrive in uncertain environments by embracing reality, problem-solving effectively and pushing through struggles.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Growing a Business

What Our Digital World Is Missing — and How I Turned It Into $100 Million After Dropping Out of High School

I went from high school dropout to $100 million CEO by sticking to one very important learning principle.

Growing a Business

This Charleston Hotspot Found an Inflation Loophole That Helps It Avoid Rising Food Costs – Here's Its Secret

Miller's All Day partners with local farmers to combat rising inflation costs and thrive in Charleston's competitive restaurant scene.

Business Plans

Healthy Business Growth Comes from Depth, Not Just Disruption — Here's Why

For startups with a strong foundation, here's how to discover and deliver new products and services that customers want.