Much like artificial intelligence, Big Data is becoming an increasing threat as much as it is an opportunity. The more data we gather, the more analysis that can be performed. And the more accurate and sensitive that data, the more validity those findings will have. Unfortunately, this also directly increases what’s at stake in the event of a data breach.
One tool that has been increasingly relied upon as a security measure has been virtual private networks (VPNs). While they’re not all reliable, the best VPN has become a go-to way to ensure data remains encrypted and secure as it gets passed about the internet. In addition to encryption, these VPNs offer extra features like blocking malware or bypassing geo-restrictions, making them versatile tools for privacy and access. For users looking to maximize their online security or access region-locked content, VPN guides and comparisons can help determine which service is most suitable for their specific needs.
How VPNs Protect Data
VPNs use various encryption techniques to ensure that data remains secure when it’s in transit, and when it’s at rest. It works by creating an encryption tunnel between the user’s device and the VPN server. This private network makes it almost impossible for hackers to intercept or decipher the encrypted data. Different encryption standards are used, but AES-256 is seen as the highest level of security.
A lot of Big Data is now being stored in the cloud. On the one hand it’s because the cloud is increasingly cost-effective for handling large data, but it’s mostly because it allows real-time processing and easy access when collaborating. It’s therefore much more operationally efficient.
VPNs help protect such stored data by encrypting it as it leaves the user’s device. Thus, confidentiality is maintained even if the cloud provider’s servers are compromised.
VPNs also protect against hackers thanks to masking the user’s real IP address. It instead assigns it one from the VPN server, making it harder to target in an attack if they believe that the user has the Big Data stored locally.
Unique Security Challenges of Cloud Big Data
One problem in the early days of VPNs was that they throttle your internet speeds. This means that exchanging information between your device and the cloud was taxing and slow. It impedes how big the data could be. Modern VPN solutions however have focused on supporting high-speed connections and handling large volumes of data, all while ensuring security.
Another concern about Big Data being stored on the cloud is that it’s accessed by various users, some of which may not be using secure networks. This could quickly cause a compromise, as anyone monitoring their activity could pick up log-in credentials or outright observe the data in real time. VPNs are the primary solution to this issue, as they help users connect to a secure, private network when using cafe or hotel WiFi. Other security methods have been introduced too to compliment this, such as 2-factor authentication and zero-trust network access.
Another vulnerability is the cloud storage itself being a big target for large-scale attacks. A breach in the cloud provider’s security could expose vast amounts of data. This is why encryption is of employed, along with regular security audits. And, after all, many clients simply trust the cloud provider more than themselves when it comes to modern, up-to-date security measures.
Considerations When Using VPNs in Cloud and Big Data Security
An unreliable VPN provider could become a bigger problem than it is a solution. In particular, if the VPN provider is storing logs of user activity, it becomes a huge vulnerability in and of itself. These logs can contain connection timestamps, IP addresses and browsing history. This could not only be exposed through breaches, but government requests.
The way to prevent this is to opt for a highly reputable VPN provider that not only promises to not store logs, but is regularly audited to provide evidence of this fact. If no logs are stored, then no sensitive information is being held waiting to be exposed – it also makes the VPN provider a lesser target.
Final Word
It’s clear that the incentive for gathering Big Data is geared towards more detailed and sensitive data, as this is what can provide the most insight. Therefore, our need for Big Data cloud security is only going to get more important over time.
This is perhaps why VPNs are increasingly being developed to cater to the transition of storing Big Data on the cloud. It’s developing advanced features like split tunneling and higher encryption standards – particularly as the risk and ability to solve encryption increases each year.
However, relying solely on VPNs for cloud security is insufficient. A broader security strategy is needed, such as incorporating robust access controls, zero-trust network access, and moving towards a machine learning approach of threat detection.
Brian Wang is a Futurist Thought Leader and a popular Science blogger with 1 million readers per month. His blog Nextbigfuture.com is ranked #1 Science News Blog. It covers many disruptive technology and trends including Space, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Medicine, Anti-aging Biotechnology, and Nanotechnology.
Known for identifying cutting edge technologies, he is currently a Co-Founder of a startup and fundraiser for high potential early-stage companies. He is the Head of Research for Allocations for deep technology investments and an Angel Investor at Space Angels.
A frequent speaker at corporations, he has been a TEDx speaker, a Singularity University speaker and guest at numerous interviews for radio and podcasts. He is open to public speaking and advising engagements.