Cloud Computing, Authentication And Security

By Author: Paul Honor
Total Articles: 12
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Cloud computing will define the years to come as the internet evolves more rapidly in order to get things easier for us. This specifically describes various computing concepts involving a number of computers connected by a real-team communication network like the internet. This allows sharing of resources that result to various advantages like coherence and economies of scale. This makes geographically and physically-apart users to work faster and more efficiently. However, one major issue here would be the security in accessing the cloud. You need to understand this, together with its forms like SMS 2 factor authentication, multi-factor, as well as other options and alternatives.

Authenticating Cloud Users or Entities

Firstly, cloud authentication is about the process of ensuring that an entity accessing the cloud is an authorized one. Well, this is vital because the cloud contains files, documents and data that should only be accessed only by authorized people. With that, you do not want anyone else to access your cloud, right? You can do this by protecting and securing it with authentication procedures to ...
... verify the users’ identity. This can be done in various forms. Some businesses do it in just one-factor authentication, which means that only a single identity verification procedure will be required. There are also two factors and even multiple factors authentication.

Two-Factor Authentication

One of the most common forms of cloud security and authentication is the SMS 2 factor authentication. Generally, two-factor authentication refers to the two steps verification, which is a process that involves two (2) stages of identity verification. In other words, what this means is that the entity who is trying to access the service in the computer or network needs to present two (2) authentication factors. These factors could either be a knowledge factor, possession factor or even an inherence factor. One specific example of the possession factor is SMS, wherein a code is sent to the mobile phone of the registered user.

Other Options and Alternatives

Furthermore, there are also other forms and options for cloud authentication. As stated above, there is also a multiple factor verification that involves more than one layer of security. An example of this is the above two-factor. However, you can also opt for more layers of security. This is usually done with the combination of the three (3) types of factors discussed above. For instance, the cloud may require for a password, personal identification number (PIN) or pattern for the first layer of verification. For the second one, it could be a possession factor like token, smart cards, phone and the like. The third factor could be an inherence factor, which is unique to the user. This includes biometric verification procedures like fingerprints, eye, facial and the like.