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A look at what cloud computing is, what we mean by ‘cloud computing security,’ and why your data is safer than ever with cloud storage.

Ever since cloud storage software entered the market, many have been concerned about whether or not their data will be safe on the cloud. Can anyone in the world access my project data? The short answer is no, but of course, we understand why these concerns exist. Project data is precious, and it needs to remain in the right hands. That, in short, is why cloud computing security exists. Let’s dig into what cloud computing is, what we mean by ‘cloud computing security,’ and why your data is safer than ever with cloud storage.

Cloud Computing vs. On-Premise Computing

Before we delve into cloud computing security, it’s important to understand the difference between cloud computing and on-premise computing. Scalable cloud computing describes the on-demand availability of computing resources and cloud storage without direct active management of these resources by the company or its users. Think of scalable cloud computing like an online High-Performance Computing Network (HPC) that you can call into action when the user needs its resources.

On-premise software is installed and runs on computers on the premises of the person or organization using the software. On-premise software requires that a company purchases a license of the software for each user. Each user must have access to a computer with the minimum requirements to operate the software. On-premise software is installed locally on each user’s computer. It requires that the company have sufficient IT resources to operate the software, including user computers, network, compute servers, and data storage to store and manage data.

What is Cloud Computing Security?

Cloud computing security refers to a broad set of policies, technologies, applications, and controls to protect virtualized IP, data, applications, services, and the associated infrastructure on the cloud. The main benefit of moving to cloud storage is that all stakeholders can interact with 3D product information for their specific applications concurrently anywhere, any time. The question many companies have is: “Will our IP be safe?”

You can feel safe because your IP is secure. Data or IP cannot be transferred from the cloud unless the data owner intends to do so. In most cases, the model data is manipulated on the cloud and can only be saved back to the cloud under a different version or file name.

Why is Cloud Security Important?

On-premise software often increases data security risks. Most organizations share data for distributed design projects via email, FTP, replicated data servers, and external data sharing services. These methods create copies of data in multiple sources that can be compromised, creating numerous points of failure.

Autodesk Fusion 360 and the Cloud

Autodesk Fusion 360 is a cloud-based CAD + CAM software, meaning all project data lives on the cloud. The Autodesk Cloud is built on Amazon.com, the leading enterprise cloud service provider. Amazon.com maintains the highest levels of data security methods, protocols, and governance in practice today, meaning data storage, communication, and sharing are all encrypted end to end. Amazon employs teams that proactively focus on identifying new data security threats and closing these holes before they occur. In most cases, project data stored on the Amazon cloud is much more secure than data stored in on-premise systems that exist inside firewalls. Learn more about the benefits of designing via the cloud with Fusion 360 here.

This article is part three of a three-part series that explores why cloud computing is the way forward compared to on-premise software. Check out the whole series below:

Part 1: Ten Ways Cloud Computing Will Streamline Your Business
Part 2: Five Benefits of Cloud Collaboration for Remote Engineers
Part 3: What is Cloud Computing Security? Is My Data Safe on the Cloud?

Ready to experience a seamless design and manufacturing process? Download Fusion 360 today, or refer a friend if you’re already a member of our awesome community.