For example, a company operating in the healthcare market in the U.S. has to abide by HIPAA regulations to protect patient data and comply with the PCI-DSS standards regarding credit card information. If they have customers in the European Union, they also need to comply with the EU’s GDPR standards.  

Keeping track of the various standards and ensuring an organization is compliant with them can quickly become very challenging for companies of any size. Larger organizations may have dedicated compliance teams to streamline the process. Smaller businesses often do not have the in-house resources to effectively address regulatory compliance. In many cases, small and mid-sized companies in regulated industries need help to attain and maintain compliance. 

Finding a Compliant Infrastructure in the Cloud 

Public cloud computing vendors make it their business to tailor offerings to directly address customer concerns. The focus on data security and compliance combined with the rise of ecommerce sites that need to protect cardholder data has influenced cloud providers’ service portfolios.  

Companies implementing compliant infrastructure in the cloud stand to benefit in multiple ways from their partnership with a reliable provider. 

Ready-made compliant infrastructure

Cloud providers deliver a compliant infrastructure that companies can use to collect, store, process, and manage sensitive data. The providers should ensure a company has a secure network for transferring data and deploy an intrusion prevention system (IPS) to keep malicious actors away from sensitive data. Maintenance of hardware and software resources is the vendor’s responsibility.  

Cost savings

Building compliant systems from scratch can be an expensive proposition. The availability of on-demand systems from cloud providers reduces capital expenditures. Flexible cloud payment plans enable a business to maintain a compliant infrastructure without breaking the bank.  

Technical expertise

Many small companies and startups need technical resources that are not available internally. Cloud vendors can fill this gap by providing the knowledge and expertise required to keep compliant systems running smoothly.  

Cutting-edge technology

The world of compliance is constantly evolving with new standards being introduced and innovative techniques developed to secure sensitive data resources. The vast resources of public cloud providers enable them to invest in cutting-edge solutions that benefit their customers.  

Organizations that choose to employ cloud resources for regulatory compliance need to fully understand the shared responsibility model that characterizes all areas of cloud computing. In this model, the vendor is responsible for the security of the cloud infrastructure. Customers bear the responsibility for protecting the sensitive data they store in the cloud with activities such as firewall configuration and implementing end-to-end encryption. 

 It can be a daunting prospect for businesses to address compliance requirements. Working with a reliable cloud vendor can alleviate the stress and provide the necessary infrastructure to maintain compliance. It’s another example of how cloud computing can solve companies’ real-world problems.