In Defense of Cloud Computing: A Summary

With the advancement of cloud computing, it became possible to effortlessly host data storage and retrieve it without being hampered by physical limitations. However, the hosting of such an astronomical amount of data, and the ease with which the said data is retrieved, brought in unwanted security risks and crucial information links. A multitude of breaching methods, including Distributed Denial of Service (DDos), Man in the Middle (MiTM), Phishing, Zombie Attacks, and Side-Channel Attacks, have forced computer security engineers to address each individual issue lest critical information is stolen or misused. This paper will introduce the concept of cloud computing, the advantages it brings to data storage and management, and the disadvantages and weaknesses which are inherent to this technology. Additionally, this paper will analyze the intruding mechanisms of the five previously mentioned cloud security attack methods and then subsequently introduce the security protocols utilized by either business or individual research groups to remedy the issue.