Cloud Security With Sage Construction Anywhere

In the world of construction, you often have to make important decisions at the construction

site based on information that is located back at the main office. To get this done,

construction firms and industries of every kind are beginning to realize the productivity

benefits and the business value of accessing their enterprise data through the cloud.

Cloud Computing’s ConvenienceThere are a host of benefits in using cloud-based information storage. Gartner recently outlined emerging trends in the field, with vice president and Gartner fellow Devid Cearley noting that the cloud reduces the emphasis “on the constraints of traditional software and hardware licensing models.”1 The research firm predicts that the introduction of the cloud will change the way organizations build their own data centers and infrastructures and advises that companies not only move their data to the cloud, but also develop task-specific applications in order to fully exploit the opportunities.

As a conference publication from the 2011 World Congress on Information and Communication Technologies points out, cloud computing is particularly suited to the construction industry, as there are often a number of key players operating in various locations.2

Security ConcernsDespite the mobility and improved communications that cloud computing can provide, there remain concerns, chiefly when it comes to security. A survey from Microsoft found that 44 percent of small and midsized businesses (SMBs) regard cloud computing as unproven and thus risky, while 70 percent said they would want to know where their data was.3 Another 51 percent of responding SMBs said data privacy was one reason for them to give pause before migrating to the cloud.

The risks of the cloud include the privacy measures of the system itself as well as those on the devices used to access cloud-based information. Having mobile workers creates additional threats, SiliconANGLE notes, as keeping the data secure becomes as important as backing up and saving it.4 Research from the International Data Corporation indicates that mobile workers will number 1.3 billion worldwide by 2015.5 With IDC predicting 37.2 percent of the total workforce will be operating outside of a traditional office setting by that time, combating the security issues presented by the cloud and remote access will be paramount.

SiliconANGLE recommends that contractors and other business owners seek out service providers which offer certificate-based security and regularly back up their customers’ data.4

In an interview with Government Info Security, Francis deSouza, group president of Symantec’s Enterprise Products and Services division, notes that companies can increase the security of the information they store on the cloud by setting up access controls, limiting the number of people who can view certain files.6 Encryption of data is also good protection in the event that a breach occurs. DeSouza addresses worries about mobile workers’ losing a device, putting the data stored on the phone or computer at risk. To avert this, he recommends that businesses set up passwords, malware protection, and remote wipe capabilities.

1. http://www.gartner.com/it/page.jsp?id=19715152. http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/login.jsp?tp=&arnumber=6141425&url=http%3A%2F%2Fieeexplore.ieee.org%2Fxpls%2Fabs_all.jsp%3Farnumber%3D61414253. http://www.itbusinessedge.com/slideshows/show.aspx?c=952634. http://www.dabcc.com/article.aspx?id=197775. http://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=prUS232519126. http://www.govinfosecurity.com/articles.php?art_id=4650

Cloud Security with Sage Construction Anywhere

Sage offerings, in partnership with Microsoft Azure Sage has been committed to creating a cloud platform that meets all of its clients’ needs. In order to do so, Sage Construction and Real Estate has partnered with Microsoft to develop its cloud services on Microsoft’s state-of-the-art Windows Azure platform.

Sage Construction Anywhere initiates all cloud communication from behind the customer’s firewall and encrypts all communications between Sage Construction Anywhere and Sage 300 Construction and Real Estate (formerly Sage Timberline Office) with 256-bit SSL security. Additionally, Sage Construction Anywhere creates an audit trail in order to track who requests, accesses, and views information stored on Sage Construction Anywhere. This is particularly beneficial in terms of legal protection and contract compliance.

In order to ensure data security, Sage Construction Anywhere security was audited by global information security consulting firm Comsec Consulting. Credit card data is stored in a solution that complies with the Payment Card Industry’s standards, designed to keep payment information safe from breaches. This not only guarantees that your company’s data is protected, but that your customers are secure as well.

ConclusionThe momentum for business adoption of cloud computing is building as more contractors and owners realize the potential to improve communications, efficiency, and spending in their enterprises. Imagine what your construction firm could accomplish with constant access to project data and the ability to work from virtually anywhere.

There’s no crystal ball to let you know where your construction firm and the industry as a whole will be in the next year or further into the future. But with forecasting software, you can better manage cash flow and make decisions that may insulate your business from major economic shocks.

Cloud Security with Sage Construction Anywhere

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