Is the Cloud Really Safer Than an On-Premises Server?

Many people find it counterintuitive that the Cloud could be safer than an on-premises server. The Cloud feels abstract and distant, whereas a physical server in your workspace is concrete and tangible. It’s easier to conceptualize and, therefore, easier to protect. Right? 

Just because you can see a server right in front of you doesn’t mean you’re in a better position to defend it from cybersecurity threats. In fact, unless your small or medium-sized business has an unusually well-funded IT team, you’re probably in a significantly worse position than if you opted for the Cloud.  

The Difference Between On-Premises and Cloud Security 

With the rise of smartphones and tablets, cybercriminals have more entry points into an organization’s system than ever before. Their methods for gaining access to critical information — including customer data — within that system are becoming ever more sophisticated.  

If your organization’s system is on an on-premises server, you’re fully responsible for blocking those entry points and countering those advanced hacking techniques. If it’s in the Cloud, you’ve got the cybersecurity muscle of a company like Microsoft handling that for you.  

The Cloud may seem like it’s on a remote island somewhere while your server is safe and sound in your office. But, that server is putting you on a remote island, with minimal security and a giant sign that says, “Treasure here!” for any passing pirate to read.  

Criminal hackers know this, which is why they prioritize small and medium businesses. In 2022, Forbes reported that one in five small businesses have had at least one account compromised by cyberattacks. Overall, 20% of all security breaches and 82% of all ransomware attacks affect SMBs, costing an average of nearly $22,000 per attack. SMBs may not offer the “big score” that would make a hacker rich overnight, but since they often have weak or even nonexistent cyber defenses, it’s easy to hit several of them and rack up ill-gotten rewards in a hurry. According to the FBI, compromised business emails added up to more than $2.9 billion in losses to businesses in 2023.  

Moving your sensitive data to Microsoft’s Cloud means that hackers who want to steal it must contend with a security system that boasts 118 global certifications (the most in the industry) and $4 billion in annual cybersecurity spending. It’s like lining the shores of your island with pinpoint-accurate cannons and manning those cannons with defensive experts. As Gartner states, tier 1 cloud service providers like Microsoft benefit from having the scale to invest in resilience and security tools as well as the ability to deliver crucial features like encryption, authentication and filtering across services.  

Moving to the Cloud is Worth the Lift 

Still, some SMBs may balk at moving to the Cloud, even if the security benefits are clear. After all, it’s a big project with a lot of moving parts to be accounted for — especially if you decide to upgrade your ERP solution to Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central in the process. But even if you decide that now isn’t the time for your organization to make the change to Business Central, you can still benefit from the security benefits of the Cloud. Instead, you can choose to “lift and shift” your system from your physical server to Microsoft’s Azure Cloud, holding onto your existing ERP while keeping your valuable data outside the reach of SMB-targeting hackers.  

Either way, your business stands to benefit from partnering with an experienced implementation team. At Enavate, we’ll guide you throughout the process, from assessing your existing systems and choosing the right Cloud solution to training users and promoting widespread adoption of your new tools. Contact us today to learn more about how Enavate can ensure you get all the security advantages of moving to the Cloud.