Advancements in Biometric Payment Solution

Biometrics in the finance sector is already in use and recently managing to gain more trust from consumers as they get more used to using them as a method of authentication. Biometric solutions have existed in different applications and existing trend that was slowly being explored and adopted but the pandemic effect has caused an acceleration of implementation and even a higher level of acceptance by consumers. Biometric payment solutions is a more recent application of biometric technology and research has shown that 93% of consumers prefer biometrics over passwords when authorising payment.

The biometrics industry was estimated to surpass $45 billion by 2024 but after COVID-19 and the accelerated demand for contactless technology its though to reach $70 billion by 2030.

Using biometric technology as point of sale (POS) method to identify a consumer and authorise payment from their bank account will have benefits not only on individual customer experience but there are benefits for retailers. Making the payment process easier and smoother will reduce the number of abandoned carts due to forgotten passwords, and generally improving the customer experience.

There are two main types of biometric payment technologies that are currently available as payment applications fingerprint scanning and palm scanner. While face recognition was considered as a viable solution with the current pandemic and mask-wearing it’s no longer a front runner as a solution as the accuracy and reliability are compromised with the usage of masks. Increasing security as well as providing convenience for both retailers and consumers a driving factor towards the adoption of biometric payment solutions.

Fingerprint payment cards

Biometric Payment cards will include within them a fingerprint sensor that will detect the fingerprint and match it to the one stored on the card’s chip. If it matches the payment will be authorised. The fingerprint is stored completely with the card and at no point does it leave the card so cannot be stolen or intercepted, making such a card much more secure than using a pin or signature to authorise payments. In addition to the security benefit there are further advantages of using such a technology;

Payment cards can be set up easily even from home using a simple biometric scanning device
Pins are not required
Doesn’t require a battery
Such cards will be compatible for use with existing contactless terminals as the authentication is happening within the card itself

Currently, there are trials of such cards happening in Europe, so we may be seeing them appearing soon.

3D Fingerprint Scanners

Recent technology such as the MorphoWave Compact by Idemia work by using 3D fingerprint imaging to increase accuracy. Idemia’s patented, touchless 3D fingerprint technology works by scanning four fingers in 3D for maximum accuracy, with one pass of the hand over the sensor. This allows for a fast transaction without compromise to security.

Although, traditionally this technology is used for access control and time-attendance, Arana Security have developed a payment application compatible with the MorphoWave Compact to offer a touchless biometric payment solution.

Palm scanner payment

There are 2 slightly different technologies that come under palm scanners, both of which are not new technologies in themselves but the application as payment solutions is more recent.

The first being scanner that detects the patterns and ridges on the surface of the palm which like a fingerprint is unique. It’s not the preferred method as the probability of getting a bad image and the inaccuracy of partial prints is not favoured. The more popular choice and seen to be more secure is the use of scanners that will detect the blood vessels just below the surface of the skin, also known as vein recognition biometrics. This network of vessels is unique to each person just like fingerprints. The main advantages of vein recognition are that it does not change with age as a face does, and not accessible to be copied by criminals.

We can be certain that the future will involve more use of biometrics in different aspects of our lives. As the technology develops in its accuracy and as people increasingly look for convenience, the presence of biometric payment solutions will be welcomed by all.

Contactless Payment Solutions and How They Work?

Payments that are made using contactless cards or smart devices by touching the reader with the contactless card or device, or to bring in to close proximity to it, without the need for signature or pins to authorise payments. For the reason that no other authentication is required banks limit the maximum payment amount that can be made this with to £45 per transaction.

Contactless payment system is a method for consumers to make secure payments by use of;

credit and debit cards
Smart cards
Key fobs
Smart devices e.g mobile phones
Biometrics

How do contactless payments work?

Contactless payment solutions use one of two related technologies; RFID and NFC.

RFID in simple terms is technology uses radio frequency waves to transmit data between a microchip (tag) and the reader. There are 2 types of RFID chips, passive and active depending on how they are powered. RFID has many applications in different industries and not restricted to Conactless payments. RFID is an industry that is worth $12.08 globally and expected to reach $16.23 billion by 2029.

The origin of the technology that made contactless payments possible dates back to 1898, when Nikola Tesla created a system using radio signals to control a device without the need to directly touch it. Not until 1983 was a patent for RFID (radio frequency identification) technology issued to Charles Watson, for one of the two technologies used to make contactless payments. The second technology being NFC (near field communication) which was only accepted as a standard in 2003.

NFC technology enables the contactless transfer of data over short distances, unlike RFID can transmit over much longer distances. It’s also the technology that enables the use of mobile phone devices as contactless payment solutions. Two NFC-ready devices brought into close proximity (Max. 4cm apart) can transmit, once they are linked they can exchange data. The fact that they have to be as such close proximity means that it’s more secure as less likely that the transmission can be intercepted. It was only in 2011 that Barclays and Orange teamed up to allow for Europes first mobile phone payments. It worked by allowing users to top up their phone with £100 and make £15 transactions at a time using their mobile phone. With the technology developing whilst becoming cheaper makes the rise of the Cashless society more likely scenario sooner rather than later.

What’s the Future for Contactless?

In 2020 the accelerate growth and acceptance of contactless payment caused by the Pandemic has meant a significant number of retail transactions are contactless as people aim to reduce the risk of contracting the virus. Even before the pandemic, contactless card payments accounted for 50% of all debit card transactions for the first time last year. However, contactless payments are now advancing beyond the point of the use of cards and to biometric verification. A number of retailers in the UK are trialing the use of fingerprint biometric terminals.

The significant benefits of biometric contactless payments, from increased security, compared to other forms of payment, to the increased ease and speed of carrying out transactions, it’s likely that consumer desire for convenience will drive trends up. For retailers, the benefit is even higher as research has shown that consumers using contactless payments will actually spend more than when using cash, so it’s easy to see why such payment methods will only get further promoted.

Arana Security offer a biometric payment terminal using IDEMIA\’s MorphoWave Compact. For more information, please click here.

So the question is how soon will the UK catch up to Sweeden’s advancement towards becoming an almost totally cashless society?

What online tools can make remote working possible for businesses?

In recent years there has been a gradual shift towards remote working. With the availability of fast internet and mobile phone data, what was possible for few became possible for many. Businesses across different sector and jobs could work from anywhere in the world with an internet connection. This trend has very suddenly and dramatically accelerated with the emergence of the Pandemic. It forced many businesses into remote working. While some struggled to get to grips with the technology, many companies fully embraced the change. It allowed them to see how well it can work for many and perhaps that it would open up the potential for a more diverse workforce that was not location determined. Bosses could finally let go of the fear that their staff would not be productive. By allowed to work from home and could see the increased flexibility it allowed their employees combined with saving on commuting time actually made them more productive. They were able to achieve better results for the business.

What apps/software make remote working possible?

VPN

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is a method of creating a Private network using a public internet connection. It creates a secure connection to allow for sensitive data to be shared between employees without compromising on confidentiality. A VPN connection will allow people to remotely access their computer/data in the office from remote locations without having to transfer information to a second device so maintaining data security.

Thre are many services available although the free services potentially keep logs of sessions and collect some information which can be sold to third parties, so it\’s advisable to choose a paid service that has a no-log policy, of which there are several. Depending on the individual business requirements which VPN provider will be ideal, Some of the top-rated include;

NordVPN, IPvanish, ExpressVPN, TunnelBear.

Video conferencing

Video conferencing makes having meetings remotely a vastly different experience to telephone calls. It gives organisations the capability to give presentations, have negotiations where facial expression and body language is heavily relied upon possible. At the same time, it allows companies to save money on travel and related costs. The advances in technology have also meant that video conferencing has become much more affordable and accessible to all organisations, as no specialist equipment is required. Examples of popular video conferencing software include Zoom meetings, Microsoft teams and GoToMeeting.

Shared cloud drives

Often files being shred between colleagues, especially those with images, cannot be sent by email due to the file size restrictions. This is solved by using shared cloud-based storage. Files can be uploaded and viewed as well as downloaded. With the added benefit that files are more secure and not reliant on the device being used to access it, it is available at all times. The best known such services are Google Drive, One Drive, Dropbox and Sharepoint.

Project management apps

Project management Apps/Software that can make project planning and implementation for teams working remotely more integrated and flowing experience. Organisations will benefit from being able to schedule tasks, manage resources and indicate project milestones. To have all communications related to the project with the same platform will ensure key people don\’t get left out of conversations. There are many such software/apps with varying features available and meeting needs of different size organisations, examples of some of the most popular include; Asana, Trello and Monday.

Shared calendars

Using shared calender apps would take the guesswork out of scheduling and availability and make collaborations and meetings so much simpler to book. While some software that is used for project management does have a calendar within it, there are also apps that specifically to be used as a calendar to schedule your time. They can be used by clients to book in appointments directly without the back, and forth emails that can happen when attempting to schedule meetings. Microsoft Outlook and Gmail both provide sharable calendars, apps like Calendly and TeamUp are also good choices to consider.

So having a laptop, internet connection, and a couple of apps means that a person can work remotely without the restrictions that traditional 9-5 job used to entail. Work-life balance is becoming more plausible to achieve.

What is VPN, The Benefits and Available Services?

A virtual private network (VPN) is a way to create a private network from a public internet connection. It will create a safe ‘tunnel’ for your data to pass through without detection between your device and the target server via a VPN server. So the server you connect with will identify the VPN server and not your device. This is especially important if you are handling sensitive data and you need to protect it from any interception. VPN use encryption to scramble data which makes it unreadable so preventing anyone else “eavesdropping” on your internet activity.

Benefits of using VPN

Your browsing history: Everything you do will be tracked online. Your ISP may be able to sell your browsing history. Or when you use a search engine on a topic, you will end up getting targeted ads as the information is tied into your IP address. AVPN will prevent this data being gathered, viewed or sold.
Your location: if someone captures your IP, they can know your location as the Ip leads back to your device. With a VPN, the IP address is not your own so you can maintain online privacy.
Your devices: a VPN will help protect your devices from hacking as they cannot watch your activity.
Identity theft: a VPN will protect the data you send and receive from your devices, so giving you protection from cybercriminals.

How can a Business Benefit?

The current pandemic has accelerated the shift to remote working that has become gradually more popular in recent years. To provide employees with a secure connection is vital to protect any sensitive data that is being shared. A VPN is the best way to make this happen. Employees can access their computer at the office, or shared company drives through a highly secure connection and work anywhere in the world. Which has many benefits to businesses, including reducing cost for travel and office space and allowing for flexible working.

Another benefit for businesses who advocate for BYOD (Bring Your Own Device), while this reduces the infrastructure costs, it potentially can have significant risks for your business if the device is connected to unsecured connections, outside of the workplace, and so exposing your data.

What to consider when Choosing VPN Service?

No Log policy – the reason to use VPN is to ensure privacy so they should not track or log your online activities.
Data limits – depending on your internet usage, you need to check whether any data limits will affect you or you may opt for unlimited data usage.
Server location – if you need to be seen to access from a specific location, ensure there is a server located in that country.
Multiple devices – How many devices will you need to be able to connect to the VPN service at the same time, what limits are placed by the VPN service.
Cost- while there are free VPN services, they may collect personal data and sell to third parties, lower broadband speeds, no support, servers in fewer countries. So choosing a paid service will bring greater benefits.

What are the Best VPN Services available in 2020?

Here are 3 of the best VPN services available;

NordVPN is also a service that has a zero-logging policy. The company has more than 5700 servers across 60 countries, with 650 servers located in the UK. They are rated well for download speed and security.
IPvanish is different from other companies as it owns and manages its own servers rather than renting other peoples hardware, which gives them a greater level of control over the network and server setup and running. They also have a zero-logging policy, so they don’t collect or store any internet activity. IPvanish has 1500 servers across 55 countries.
ExpressVPN Is one of the top-rated VPN services due to their customer service, fast connection speeds, minimal downtime and a large network of servers available. They have over 3000 servers across the 94 countries. ExpressVPN does not store any traffic logs but does extract minimal information such as date and time of connection, choice of server location and bandwidth used. Individual IP is not logged, and the service won’t be identifiable to you.

Do Complicated Passwords Help Us Be More Secure?

We use passwords everywhere these days, not just on our computers but the various electronic devices and the endless accounts we seem to accumulate. With increased security measures on many websites and accounts to try to protect our sensitive data, we are being asked increasingly to create complex passwords, but are we benefiting?

Where did passwords come from?

Passwords have been around in one form or another for centuries. Its thought that the Roman military used passwords to distinguish friend from foe and there are documented uses of cyphers throughout history. However, the first use of passwords for computers happened in 1960at MIT. Fernando Corbato developed the password as a way to protect individual files from being accessed by other people on a compatible Time-Sharing System (CTSS) that several researchers had access to. Until the 90’s when the World Wide Web boom happened the need for computer passwords was not a significant issue. Suddenly there needed to be a way to protect the increasing volume of sensitive data that was being collected about people.

When did passwords become complex?

In 2003 the US National Institute of standards and Technology (NIST) released an official guidance that was written by an engineer named Bill Burr. This guidance is the basis on which password requirements are dictated. In his 8 page document Burr outlined the need for passwords to have mix of lower and uppercase, use of numbers and special characters and even that passwords should be of minimum length. He also advised that passwords should be changed regularly.

Did it improve security?

Well there is no doubt that longer more complex passwords are better choice than short easy to guess passwords. There are draw backs to using long passwords. Due to limitations of human memory the ability to recall a long string of letters and numbers can be difficult, which leads most people to either write them down, creating a security issue itself, or they often use the same password to access all their accounts. The problem is that if a hacker guesses the password then they have access to every account. Yet this is still a very common problem. Due to the large number of accounts a person holds they would struggle to create and remember a unique strong complex password for each they create an easy to remember password, which would be fine except that so many people think similarly and use the same password. Research has shown that globally the most popular password is ‘123456’. So the concept was promising but the problem was that most people didn’t understand the reasoning and so just didn’t follow guidance when creating the password and instead opted for convenience.

What is the advice now?

In 2017 NIST overhauled their advice document completely and now actually recommend the use of passphrases that are much harder to guess than a string of non-sense characters that can be more easily decoded by a computer. So using a string of unrelated words will give you better security on your accounts. Although the current trend is moving to using 2-step authentication by way of password and biometric which will see security improved while maintaining the convenience. NIST also no longer recommend||| that passwords should be changed regularly and instead advise that only done so should there be a need e.g. a breach occurs.

How Apps Can Help Our Productivity

With our very busy and noisy world, today achieving high productivity can be difficult. The level of distractions that follow us by way of our devices can be a hindrance. At the same time they can provide us with tools that if we use in the correct way will help us.

With the current dramatic shift in working patterns due to the pandemic has meant many more people are working from home. So using some of the solutions below will allow for a more collaborative and cohesive remote working setting to exist between employees of companies and their clients.

Project management

There are many benefits of using a project management software/app. Modern-day the availability and choice of software available is vast and greatly welcomed by many who have made the leap from the paper and pen planning days. We can explore some of the general benefits to organisations by using this type of software;

Project Planning – by allowing scheduling of tasks, defining key role requirements, and marking the project milestones that would form the project timeline will allow for a much more efficient flow.
Resource management is a very important consideration in project management. The effective use of resources, not just which resources are required but the timing of their need, availability or utilisations will affect the efficiency.
Forecasting – when the overview of resource allocation and timeline can be seen, efforts can be made to prevent potential bottlenecks when multiple projects or streams of projects are running.
Budget management is one of the factors that can be the difference between a successful or failed project. Decisions can more easily and quickly be made to avoid overspending on projects when all the time and cost information is available
Communication both internal and external can happen in one place and so everyone involved can follow the conversation. Leaving less chance that key people get left out of the conversation or that information does not reach the right target.

Some examples of project management apps/software include;

Asana – “designed to improve team collaboration and work management. It helps teams manage projects and tasks in one tool. Teams can create projects, assign work to teammates, specify deadlines, and communicate about tasks directly in Asana. It also includes reporting tools, file attachments, calendars, and more”
Monday “is a project management tool^[2] that enables organizations to manage tasks, projects, and team work.The platform\’s capabilities include more than 100 prebuilt automation recipes and over 50 integrations with other work apps”

Time Tracking apps

These types of apps bring great benefit to any type of work set up, whether it is a sole person looking to accurately track their working hours or a company that wants to ensure their staff are working in the most optimal way to achieve the best results. When working time is tracked then it can be easier to determine project timelines by using the information available on previous tasks. The apps can provide a greater level of transparency to employers or even clients on how the time was used. Also increasing the billing accuracy, so charges are only made for relevant work time.

There are many of such time tracking apps that have varying features and costs. To give some examples;

Everhour “is a team-oriented time tracking software.
Harvest “offers time tracking, invoicing, expense tracking, and time-based reporting”

Cloud Document Sharing

With advancing technology and increasing image resolutions and file sizes it\’s often that files cannot be shared by emails. So the existence of Cloud storage services that allow for files to be shared, edited, and stored has proven to be highly valuable. Not only that but the changing work culture, where increasingly people are working remotely allows them to have access to their files from anywhere with internet connection. The same document can be worked on by multiple persons at different locations to each contribute their part without needing to have multiple copies of the same document.

Google Drive “is a file storage and synchronization service that allows users to store files on their servers, synchronize files across devices, and share files. very widely used service and highly reliable.
Sharepoint “document management and storage system, but the product is highly configurable and usage varies”

All softwares/Apps mentioned are just a handful among many more that carry out similar functions. The decision of which to use is largely user preference to how intuitive they find the software to be. Software integrations is also a consideration for organisations that want to create a more seamless flow in their productivity.

Regulations of Biometric Data for Use in Security

With the increasing popularity of biometric technology in security, companies are moving towards the use of it rather than the more traditional forms. It offers businesses flexibility and enables them to streamline their authentication processes. Biometric security provides a more robust and advanced level of security over traditional forms.

It’s important to consider the regulations around the use of such technology and how the data is processed and stored in terms of data privacy laws. With over 120 of the world countries having some sort of data privacy laws but not many speak specifically about biometrics. With some countries, such as Germany, having much stricter privacy laws than others.

Are there UK Biometric Laws?

There is no single law that specifically governs the collections and storage of Biometric data in the UK, there are a number of laws that legislate on data privacy and include Biometric data.

The Information Commissioners Office (ICO) is a government body that is responsible for regulating data privacy issues. The ICO sets out a code of practice but is not a legal act itself. The practical advice that is offered will help organisations comply with the legal framework.

In the UK, the the Protection of Freedom Act 2012 is one that regulates the use of biometrics in two specific instances. It stipulates that Police are unable to retain DNA and fingerprint data, collect from people not convicted of a crime. It also states that schools using Biometrics can only enrol students with consent of both arent and Child, and it includes any type of biometric data.

Classification of Biometric Data

Biometric data that is used to identify an individual it is designated as ‘sensitive data’ under data privacy laws and so must be treated with particular care and under stricter regulations. The ICO provides guidance on, what it calls, “special data category”. There are several forms of personal data included under this category but the relevant aspect is that it includes Biometric data where it’s used for identification purposes. Under GDPR biometric data is classified as personal data and its processing requires explicit consent as well as lawful basis. There is an obligation for organisations to consider whether in fact, they need the data and how it will be kept securely.

What are the considerations?

Organisations crucially need to have lawful basis to process personal data but they also need to be certain weather they need it. Points to consider;

Why is the data being collected?
What will be done with it?
Where will it be stored?
Who will have access to it?
How will it be secured?

Its also important to determine whether the data needed for the identity verification is more sensitive that the information it gives users access to. If this is the case a less rigorous authentication process would be more suited. To carry out a data protection impact assessment (DPIA) will set out the details and considerations and so allowing for an informed decision weather or not the implementation of Biometric system is the way forward.

With the biometric technologies booming in the current pandemic the use of non contact authentication is sure to be further adopted by companies worldwide, to overcome health risk concerns. Using biometric authentication will also allow for more remote working in some sectors where security is of the most paramount importance.

What Are The CCTV Regulations In the UK for Commercial Businesses?

The use of CCTV for security measure in the workplace can be highly beneficial as a deterrent for criminal activity. For some there may be a concern around the legal responsibility and considerations for the use of CCTV by businesses, which does need to be explored by each business to determine the benefits and suitability of security and surveillance systems.

How is CCTV governed?

It is important to know that GDPR laws cover images captured by CCTV and so steps must be taken to ensure the organisation is compliant. The Information Commissioners Office (ICO) is a government body that is responsible for regulating data privacy issues. The ICO sets out a code of practice but is not a legal act itself. The practical advice that is offered will help organisations comply with the legal framework. The Surveillance Camera Commissioner’s Office (SCCO) also issues a code of practice that details the legal obligations for CCTV users and again like ICO is not an act itself but is an officially-sanctioned document.

The legal framework that the ICO and SCCO draw on to create the code of practice is based on 4 aspects of law;

The Data Protection Act (DPA), which regulates how personal data can be processed and moved, and how it must be protected.
The Freedom of Information Act (FOI), which regulates access to information held by public authorities
The Protection of Freedoms Act (POFA), which regulates (among others) how surveillance and biometric data can be used, and how these types of data must be safeguarded.
The Human Rights Act (HRA), which includes provisions regarding the right to privacy

Rules on CCTV

There are several points to consider when looking to decide if a business requires a surveillance security system:

Consider if it necessary to use CCTV and what needs to be recorded?
Register with ICO
Appoint a data controller to be responsible for the storage, processing and review of data
Perform Privacy impact assessment (PIA)
Inform all employees that they are being recorded and provide clear signage
Ensure areas of expected privacy, eg toilets and changing rooms are not included in surveillance areas.
Subjects of CCTV data can ask for any personal data that has been collected, which must then be provided to them within a reasonable time frame.
Comply with any requests to supply CCTV data for Legal proceedings

Benefits of compliance with regulations/Laws

There are benefits for businesses that work to comply with the laws that govern use of CCTV in commercial setting;

Allows for security infrastructure to be optimised as the legal framework looks to strike a balance between privacy and security
The organisation will be protected by authorities when data is held in accordance with DPA should any issue arise regarding the data held.
Internal documentation that is required to be maintained will allow for a continually refined and strengthened security strategy.

Breaches in compliance carry a heavy legal consequence, with more serious breaches resulting in £500,000 penalties and even custodial sentences.

Who is responsible for the data?

A business that hold personal data is required to appoint a Data controller who is legally responsible for the data. They decide what data is processed, the reason and manner. They don’t necessarily carry out surveillance or processing themselves. The data controller can be an individual, organisation or any other corporate or unincorporated bodies of persons.

The Guarding the data is the legal responsibility of businesses and so data must be stored securely and only accessed by authorised personnel. A business must also be able to show an audit trail of how the data is collected and kept. Once the data is no longer needed, it must also be disposed of in a way that it would be impossible to recover.

How long can data be kept?

Data should only be stored for as long as legitimately needed. No specific duration is defined for keeping data, and that is likely to vary depending on the circumstance that the data is collected. For example, a restaurant is likely to only need CCTV footage for a few hours while a hotel corridor perhaps a few days.

The legislation related to surveillance equipment aims to strike a balance between security and privacy by giving the CCTV users means to protect staff and assets without compromising basic human right to privacy. Having a well planned and efficient CCTV will bring benefits to a business. If you would like more information or to discuss your requirements, you can contact Arana Security, here.

Cloud Services: What Are They & What Are The Benefits?

Why the “Cloud”?

The term “Cloud” has been used for several decades in relation to IT. Originally it was used within old telecom network schematics to refer to parts that were just not relevant to go into details over, so it was represented as a cloud image. Cloud computing as a term became popular in the early 2000s to describe the services offered that allowed for on-demand IT resource delivery over the internet. However, the concept of providing computing as a service has been around since the 1960s.

What are Cloud Services?

Cloud computing services include a range of on-demand services provided over the internet to companies and customers without them having to own the computing infrastructure or data centres. Instead of having to run programs and software that are physically on their computers or servers, companies can have affordable access to flexible resources without the complexity and expense, by paying for what they use. The computing essentially happens on remote serves (cloud servers), and the data collected is also stored remotely. The cloud service providers are also able to benefit from significant economies of scale by delivering the services to a range of customers.

The services that are offered as cloud services include;

Servers
Databases
Storage
Networking
Software
Analytics

Cloud computing services can be generally divided into three categories;

1) Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS): providing access to essential infrastructures such as servers, network components, and storage. E.g. Amazon web services

2) Platform as a Service (PaaS): used by developers to develop, test, maintain software. It was created to support the whole application life cycle. E.g. OpenShift

3) Software as a Service (SaaS): giving access to applications and software through subscriptions over the internet. E.g. Microsoft 365

What are the benefits of cloud services?

Cloud services have become very popular and increasingly adopted by companies and customers due to the benefits that they can bring;

Reduce costs

Companies don’t need to purchase and maintain costly equipment for their IT needs as well as not requiring a large IT team. With an increasing number of cloud service providers, the competition is higher, and so prices for cloud storage will fall at the same time as storage capacity increases.

Faster IT equipment

Computer memory and power of individual computers are freed up by the use of cloud services, as software and data are not stored on the device.

Data Security

Often the biggest concern for people, but cloud service providers will offer advanced data security features. Data that is processed by cloud storage providers will implement authentication, access control and encryption. Combined with the organisation’s security measures will protect sensitive data.

Data recovery

When data is stored in the cloud it can be recovered should there be a problem with the hardware. Even destruction of on-site systems through any means, the data is all easily accessed with any device connected to the internet.

Business scale

Cloud services give organisations the flexibility to easily and quickly scale up/down IT requirements depending on their business needs.

On-the-go working

When resources are in the cloud, they are stored, retrieved, recovered or processed with a couple of clicks. Access to works is available 24/7 and anywhere with internet on smartphones and devices.

With the advancement of services available as well as the changing work culture allowing more people to more easily take work on the road or work from home, the use of cloud services is likely only to increase. With the help of IoT, the growth of cloud services will only increase as the quality of the internet is improving.