Cloud-based systems have many positives. They are cost-effective, scalable, and a cornerstone of modern IT infrastructure with data integrity.
But they also bring complexities, specifically with regard to the handling of data.
Businesses who upgrade legacy infrastructure expect improved performance and security. While cloud solutions can deliver on both, companies must first prepare for the challenge of maintaining data integrity in cloud-based systems. This article outlines the problem and a few solutions.
Table of contents
Why is Data Integrity Important?
Data integrity refers to the accuracy, consistency, and trustworthiness of data from the moment it’s created to the time it’s deleted. Accurate, dependable data ensures business operations run smoothly and decisions are well-informed. Altered data, on the other hand, poses a serious financial, legal, or reputational risk.
For many industries, maintaining data integrity is a non-negotiable compliance requirement. Modified or tampered records result in fines or litigation. To prevent these outcomes, businesses must implement policies and introduce technologies to validate, backup, integrate, and audit data.
Risks For Data Integrity in Cloud-Based Systems
No system is without risk. Legacy set-ups may have security gaps, while hybrid systems can be immensely complicated. Cloud solutions are more stable, but any reliance on third-party platforms raises issues of its own.
Access Control
Cloud environments are shared and access control, a critical point of consideration. When an unauthorized user gains the ability to view, alter, or delete information, the quality of data deteriorates and threats compound.
Cloud environments require strict access management to prevent breaches. Many organizations use role-based access controls with zero-trust policies to ensure that no user is given more access than they need. Many also follow least-privilege principles so employees only have access to the necessary systems.
Cloud providers offer built-in access controls, but their complexity often leads to setup errors. As confirmed by a 2023 Cloud Security Report, misconfigurations are the most common vulnerability for data integrity in cloud-based systems.
Regular access audits, strong password and authentication policies can help reduce errors, and keep bad-faith actors out of sensitive business data.
Cyber Security
Cyberattacks are both more frequent and sophisticated. Cloud-based systems are not immune. Breaches can be the result of a myriad of factors, ranging from a weak password to a highly-coordinated ransomware attack.
Regardless of their complexity, however, they almost always result in heavy losses. The average cost of a breach is now upwards of $4 million.
To reduce risk both during and after migration, businesses must prioritize encryption. Ensuring that confidential data is unintelligible while in transit is the best possible protection against unauthorized access — even when the system is compromised. Multi-factor authentication also adds a layer of protection.
Combined with access controls and continuous monitoring, these measures play a big part in maintaining data integrity in cloud-based systems.
Transparency and Compliance
Being transparent while meeting regulatory standards can be difficult, especially when sensitive business data is involved. Cloud providers operate under different frameworks, and once data is moved off-premises, businesses lose visibility and control. This makes it harder to track how data is stored, moved, or modified.
For businesses, this also makes it a struggle to stay compliant with laws, such as:
- HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act)
- GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation)
- PCI-DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard)
Each of these regulations has specific requirements and unique penalties.
One way to address all is through proper web archiving practices.
These softwares record and store tamper-proof records of websites, social media posts, and other digital communications. This archive acts as verifiable evidence of all content that existed and when. It even tracks if data was later modified or deleted.
As compliance failures become more costly (now averaging over $14 million) tools like this that support transparency and audit readiness are essential.
What Can Organizations Do?
No business can afford to ignore the risks of storing data in the cloud. While this article covered three major obstacles, the threat landscape is always throwing up new hurdles. Security measures will improve, but so will threats.
For this reason, it’s crucial that businesses see data integrity in cloud-based services as an ongoing responsibility. This means more investment in staff training, strictly enforced access controls, and comprehensive understanding of the compliance landscape.
Incorporating AI-powered tools can help businesses monitor, backup, and detect threats, while automation tools can ease the burden on internal teams and improve response time. By taking a proactive approach to data integrity, and leveraging the right tools, organizations can avoid costly consequences.
