Perhaps the biggest misconception surrounding cloud computing is the idea that the cloud is a relatively new technology. In fact, it has been around, in some form, for decades. Since the emergence of mainframes in the late 1970s, businesses have rarely kept data in close proximity to their operations. What is new is the increased investment into the resources necessary to strengthen the cloud’s capabilities, which allows more businesses to utilize the service, both at a private and public level.

The public and private cloud are two similar, yet different entities. Each has its own strengths and weaknesses. The public cloud is a much newer concept, having been around for only roughly 10-12 years. Over the past few years, public cloud providers such as Amazon have dramatically increased investments into their data centers and other resources, which allows users more space and greater functionality as they manage their information in the cloud.

Unlike private cloud users, those who rent cloud space from public providers don’t have full control over their information and its security. It’s a shared responsibility between users and providers. Although the public cloud can alleviate some of the responsibilities that go along with managing data in the cloud, only private users are able to take full accountability for their data.

This is a concern in an era where hackers are increasingly adapting to modern security practices and systems. Cyber criminals have evolved concurrently with the solutions designed to stop them, which is why new regulatory measures are being implemented all the time to mitigate the risk of lost or stolen data from a public cloud.

Ultimately, despite its risks, the cloud presents a tremendous opportunity for organizations to improve their data management processes. Users cannot obtain additional information from cloud sources, but they can use the technology to facilitate the management, sharing and storage of large data sets. Those with advanced cloud controls can gain greater insight into their information because they can arrange and view it all in a cloud setting.

The virtual nature of cloud storage allows it to grow and adapt to changing needs. In the big data era, the volume of digital information is growing at a tremendous rate, so organizations that rely on their own physical storage will end up running into new challenges over time. This is why the media and industry analysts view the cloud and big data as two relatable trends in the business technology realm.

The public cloud will continue to provide resources for organizations of just about every industry. Retail and health care are two that rely heavily on their ability to protect sensitive information. Customer financial data and patient information must be protected, which is why some organizations in these sectors have been slow to fully embrace the cloud. However, as regulations continue to call for increased security measures, these industries will also enjoy the benefits of the cloud.

Big data is taking over the way we do business, and soon every company will learn the benefits of business intelligence. Those that do and are able to effectively leverage the cloud to help their information management practices will be more successful.