Possible Cloud Computing Issues

Most of the legal issues of the cloud deal with security. The provider has personal and corporate information that covers everything from banking information and customer information all the way to private health information. The problem comes in as to where the actual service provider's server is located. Laws that apply in America are not necessary adhered to in other countries. Physical location prescribes jurisdiction and legal obligation. Country laws governing personally recognizable information vary greatly. What is acceptable in one country can be a violation in another (McEleney, 2011). Cloud providers need to be very cautious in where they decided to place their servers for the sake of their customers.

The ethics of cloud computing storage are the same as in any business; honesty, integrity, trust and security. The provider you are dealing with must make sure they are in control of the information at all times. They must do their part to secure their system not only from outside attacks but those breeches from within.

PCI (Perioheral Componet Interconnect) Security Council Standards report states that cloud security is a shared responsibility between the cloud service providers and the client (Crosman, 2013). Both parties need to take the necessary precautions to make sure the information is protected, encrypted, password protected, they use virtual private networks (VPNs) and sufficient firewalls are in place. Cloud storage is safe provided you warehouse your sensitive information with a reputable firm (Bertolucci, 2012). Providers should also have a plan of action for information restoration in place in case of disaster or system failure.

The cloud has upended traditional communication models, and the world is changing as a result. In the past, communications was one-to-many, whether for newspapers, radio, TV. It was the way companies give information about their products and governments communicated with the populace. Today the model has been inverted: now we have many-to-one communication (think Twitter and Facebook), where the page owner can issue a message, and hundreds, thousands or millions of people can respond. The result is a new transparency as people communicate with politicians, pop stars and anyone on the public stage in a very open way (McEleney, 2011). This to many is viewed as a positive and while it can be it could also be seen as a negative. Too often in offices or classrooms all across the world people are facebooking, tweeting or playing games instead of focusing on the task at hand. The population as a whole is losing connection with their peers by being connected. Cloud computing is making life so much easier you don't ever have to leave you home. You can order groceries, clothing and entertainment with the click of a mouse. You don't even have to leave your house to deposit a paycheck anymore; just take a photo with your smart phone and the money is credited to your account.