Cloud computing is ideal for businesses that want to quickly grow. This option opens new doors for companies but must be effectively managed for these businesses to reap its benefits. A company that fails to develop a security plan before it takes its operations into the cloud is at risk due to hackers and viruses.

Many businesses recently expressed interest in improving their cloud security systems in a survey conducted by Ernst & Young. According to PC Advisor, this survey of 1,850 IT professionals revealed that 31 percent of respondents said they had seen an increase in security incidents between 2011 and 2012. Additionally, 39 percent of participants noted that they plan to increase their security budgets for cloud systems for the next 12 months.

Before making the switch to cloud systems, companies can plan ahead by developing security programs to safeguard their confidential materials. Businesses that prioritize security are better equipped to prevent data breaches that could cause long-term damage to their reputations.

Consider the following tips to create security plans before storing confidential documents in the cloud.

Examine your business goals
Review your business goals to determine what your organization hopes to accomplish by using the cloud. When your company recognizes the value of new technology, it can properly use various tools to protect its materials and avoid security risks.

A security plan that works well for one business might fail to meet the needs of another organization, so tailor a plan that satisfies the goals of your company. Use a collaborative approach that involves gathering data and feedback from high-ranking officials and IT staff members to create a security program that allows your workers to securely access and view content that is stored in the cloud.

Get corporate support
It's important to have support from executives within your business, as these people are likely to be heavily impacted by the use of the cloud. Explain how your cloud security plan helps these team members and satisfies your business goals before implementing your strategy.

The use of portable document format (PDF) files is helpful for many businesses that want to maximize the cloud, and these files should be a consideration when developing security plans. Document protection is enhanced with PDFs, which makes them ideal for businesses that want to customize their security.

With PDFs, companies can limit or revoke reader access to easily protect their confidential materials. Safeguards can be added or eliminated at any time and make it more difficult for hackers or viruses to impact these files.

In our next edition, we will continue to review the steps businesses should take before they store confidential files in the cloud.

Vitrium is exhibiting at ASTD 2013 International Conference & Exposition in Dallas, TX, May 19-22, 2013.

ASTD 2013 is the premier event for workplace learning and development professionals, with more than 9,000 attendees from over 80 countries. Join us May 19 – 22, in Dallas, Texas to share insights and best practices with colleagues, network with the smartest people in the profession, and learn from world-renowned thought leaders. You won’t just be keeping up with the latest trends; you’ll be staying in front of them.

Good E-Reader, an online resource for eBook reader and digital publishing news, recently posted an article on their blog discussing the future of digital publishing and whether there will eventually be a standardized format to deliver content. Right now there seems to be three popular avenues, eBook Apps, HTML5, and ePub3, and there has been discussion about which format will dominate the digital publishing space. The answer seems to be unclear right now, as each format has its benefits and drawbacks, and it really depends on the publisher’s end objective. The article includes input from various experts in the digital publishing industry, including Vitrium’s Amy Ross, and each gives a different perspective on the three mediums.

Read More: http://goodereader.com/blog/electronic-readers/feature-are-ebook-apps-html5-or-epub3-the-future-of-digital-publishing/

The cloud is endless, which makes it an appealing option for many businesses. With this technology, companies are able to create, edit and share documents with peers across the globe. Additionally, people can typically view materials on a variety of computers and mobile devices with the cloud.

Introducing the cloud to a workforce can be difficult, especially for first-time users. There are many factors to consider, including the following:

1. Integration
Develop a game plan to integrate the cloud into your daily operations. A business that recognizes the benefits of the cloud increases the likelihood that it can deliver information about this technology in ways that make it easy to understand.

Amy Anderson, IBM Cloud Program Market Manager, noted that integration is often the biggest challenge companies face because of the technology's impact on these businesses. Many high-ranking executives and CEOs want to see immediate results, but companies that take the time to learn how best to use the cloud can do so to their advantage.

"Cloud computing creates whole new opportunities," Anderson told Talkin' Cloud. "You have to rethink IT and rethink business."

Build a cloud infrastructure, develop cloud-based applications and then integrate these solutions to help improve your business operations with this innovative technology.

2. Security
Companies often store valuable materials online, and businesses that fail to consider the security of these documents could suffer dire consequences. Hackers and viruses could damage these files and businesses may need to invest significant resources to recover them.

According to a recent study conducted by Lockheed Martin, budget restrictions and administrative priorities have prevented many federal technology professionals from implementing enhanced cloud computing security measures. However, 26 percent of pre-qualified government IT decision makers named cloud computing safety as one of their primary concerns.

"Government's challenge is two-fold, adopting transformational technologies to help reduce operating costs while also keeping systems and data safe," Lockheed Martin representative Rick Johnson told AOL Government.

Document protection is vital, and businesses should be careful where they store all of their data. Many companies use portable document format (PDF) files to safeguard their materials because these documents can be easily accessed by authorized users. At the same time, people must use passwords to view confidential content, and administrators can customize security settings to limit and revoke access. With PDFs, businesses can take a proactive approach to the safety of their documents and eliminate problems before they occur. 

Vitrium is exhibiting at O’Reilly Tools of Change for Publishing Conference 2013 in New York, NY, February 12-14, 2013.

O’Reilly Tools of Change for Publishing Conference is for professionals and companies engaged with the challenges and opportunities of new publishing technologies and business models. This conference brings together smart, highly motivated people from a wide range of companies and organizations to discuss innovative business models, share hard-won knowledge, and explore the strategic objectives of an ever-changing industry.

Cloud computing is growing quickly, as this option allows workers to easily access a wide range of information from locations across the globe. However, new technology also presents many document security issues for companies, including who is responsible for determining and managing confidential materials.

"There are many motivations for why an individual or a company would want to engage in cloud computing," Thomas Parenty, managing director of a Hong Kong-based information security consulting firm, told CNN. "None of them have to do with enhanced security."

Various business officials have expressed concerns about cloud computing. A CIO Magazine study recently showed that 50 percent of CEOs surveyed said safety was among the biggest concerns with this technology. While many businesses use firewalls and anti-virus software to protect data on-site, some company officials noted that they feel there are few options that sufficiently safeguard confidential information away from their main headquarters.

"A company or an individual looking to move to the cloud is going to have to make a huge leap of faith that their data is being protected," Parenty told the news outlet.

Business managers should evaluate who has the responsibility for document security. Supervisors will want to ensure that only authorized employees can view certain content, and the person who can control or revoke access has a tremendous amount of responsibility.

Many companies take a team approach to document security by putting important information into the hands of several qualified experts. These professionals can work together to develop strategies to prevent data breaches that could negatively impact a business' confidential materials.

Often, the first step to determining how to approach document protection is to examine how a security breach could occur. This allows managers to review safety options that are available and implement solutions that may help a business avoid dangers presented by hackers and viruses.

Common document security issues
Christopher Raushnot, a computer expert and certified Apple tech, told Gadling that cloud-based documents are susceptible to a number of dangers. While many companies allow their workers to complete assignments on-the-go, these businesses should be aware of various security issues and ways to resolve such problems.

Portable document format (PDF) files are one option that many authorized document security professionals recommend. With PDFs, a company's leaders can determine who should have access to confidential materials and can limit and revoke reader access to these documents.

Additionally, PDFs are safe to access via the cloud and can include text, pictures, videos and more. The files are ideal because they can easily be password-protected and safely shared among co-workers.

A company could have multiple wireless networks that feature a wide range of information. Employees can quickly view documents to complete their daily tasks through the internet, but businesses face security threats if they fail to effectively safeguard these networks.

According to Computerworld, some businesses are considering a new trend to help protect confidential information – bring your own network (BYON). Companies that participate allow their employees to set up their own wireless networks that they can access freely at any time.

However, Jim Kunick, an attorney with the Chicago law firm Much Shelist, said BYON could harm companies.

"The network thing blows this up completely, because it takes the data out of the network the company protects," Kunick told the news source. "There's no way to ensure the security of that data. People are running corporate apps and processing corporate and client data using networks that may or may not be secure."

Businesses strive to help their workers, but inadequate document security can cause severe damage to these companies. The following problems could arise if a business fails to protect secure materials.

1. Data breach
A data breach could hurt a company in a number of ways. This problem can occur if a hacker is able to view a company's confidential documents and uses these files to his or her advantage. This person could provide the information to a competitor or could use the data to damage the business' reputation.

Prevent a data breach by password-protecting files. Businesses that encourage their employees to create portable document format (PDF) files reduce the risk that hackers could potentially access confidential materials.

2. Piracy
Hackers could use information to produce duplicates of certain materials. These files could damage a company's bottom line, but this can be avoided with the use of PDFs.

PDFs are accessible from anywhere but allow employers to prevent certain employees from viewing them. By limiting reader access, companies are able to effectively protect confidential materials. Workers who are permitted to view certain data can finish their daily assignments and enjoy secure access. Meanwhile, hackers could face problems if they try to view this content, as a company is able to track who accesses documents, how long these files are viewed and other elements to ensure the safety of confidential information. 

Wireless networks are susceptible to hackers and viruses, but companies can take steps to effectively safeguard their valuable materials. While storing documents that are easily accessible is helpful, businesses should also consider the impact of inefficient security systems.

For example, officials with AT&T and the Polytechnic Institute of New York University surveyed 623 small business owners and workers about mobile security in September 2012. Researchers found that 90 percent of survey participants said staff members use mobile devices that provide easy access to wireless networks. However, only 65 percent of all respondents said they were concerned about the data and information on their mobile devices.

"There is a troubling disconnect between business owners who want to keep data safe and the necessary steps to protect it," said Ed Amoroso, AT&T's Chief Security Officer. "With more employees using mobile devices, especially personal devices, business data is increasingly vulnerable to cyber threats. Protecting critical information can be easy and affordable, and small businesses need to recognize the reality of today's environment – this is a step they can't afford to ignore."

Consider the following tips to upgrade the security of valuable information that is stored on wireless networks and hardware.

1. Use PDFs
Portable document format (PDF) files are valuable because they are customizable and help prevent hackers from accessing a business' materials.

With PDFs, companies can limit or revoke reader access to certain content. Document security can be enhanced by protecting confidential data using passwords so only authorized users can view this information.

Many businesses incorporate PDFs into their daily operations, as these files maintain their integrity on computers, laptops, smartphones and tablets. These files can be accessed from anywhere by employees who are given usernames and passwords.

2. Encrypt and back up data
Businesses that encrypt confidential documents immediately enhance the security of these materials. If a company loses these files and they fall into the hands of a hacker, this unauthorized viewer will be unable to see encrypted documents.

It is also helpful if companies back up their files, but they should remember the importance of document protection when they create duplicates. Limiting access to secondary copies allows many businesses to avoid security risks. These files can also be password-protected and stored in safe places to prevent harm from hackers or viruses.

Companies must provide certain personnel with access to various confidential materials. These documents can help staff members finish their daily responsibilities but could be damaging if they fall into the wrong hands.

Take a look at some of the dangers presented to companies if they fail to safeguard confidential materials.

1. Unauthorized disclosure of information
Companies make specific materials private for many reasons, and the unauthorized disclosure of information can happen if they fail to effectively safeguard their content. Employees who can easily access these materials can deliver the information to competitors or hackers or could use it for personal financial gain. Additionally, this unauthorized disclosure can harm a company's reputation and could serve as a black mark on its otherwise sterling operations.

There are several ways businesses can prevent the unauthorized release of confidential materials. Companies can monitor network traffic to identify potential releases of secure information, and they can also use vulnerability assessment tools to constantly update its security systems, thus ensuring that they stay ahead of data breach threats.

2. Interruption of regular operations
A system interruption could hinder a company's ability to maintain its productivity. Supervisors need to review the cause of a service interruption, find an answer and implement this solution, and this process could require an extensive amount of time to complete. Meanwhile, an unauthorized worker could continue to harm a company since the business failed to control access to certain materials.

Portable document format (PDF) files are helpful to companies that want to limit access to secure information. These files include a variety of content, such as pictures and text, and can be password-protected. A business can enhance its document security by requiring its workers to use PDFs and ensuring that they password-protect confidential materials.

Eliminating or reducing access to an "Admin" login is also useful. Many companies establish this username to make it easy for employees to view documents – workers are able to quickly access information, but all staff members can view the same files with the same login.

An effective alternative is to provide each worker with a unique username and password. This allows a company to monitor each staff member's activities, and if a problem arises, business managers can approach a single employee about his or her actions.

Many companies configure their security systems to prevent unauthorized access to confidential materials. However, errors can occur that could help hackers view secure information, and a data breach could prove detrimental to your business.

A security breach can happen if a worker fails to perform his or her everyday tasks. For example, a staff member who accesses websites that are unrelated to his or her daily responsibilities could use confidential materials for personal financial gain. If the worker is caught, the results could be damaging to the employee and the company, and could even cause a business to lose significant resources.

Companies can help eliminate safety risks by preventing staff members from gaining unauthorized access to secure materials. The following tips provide insight into how businesses can enhance the security of their confidential data.

1. Block employees' access to sensitive information – Many staff members are on a need-to-know basis, and employers can prevent a data breach by effectively controlling workers' access to sensitive materials.

Portable document format (PDF) files are helpful to companies that want to protect confidential information. These files can easily be password-protected, and the document security can even be customized to fit the needs of a business. Users can modify or revoke reader access at any time, which makes PDFs versatile for businesses. Converting Microsoft Word documents to PDFs can be quickly completed and is useful to a company that wants only certain personnel to have access to secure materials.

2. Complete audits – A security system is effective if employers monitor its progress. Keep this platform up to date by conducting periodic audits.

An audit is an in-depth analysis that forces an employer to examine how a hacker could gain unauthorized access to secure materials. Through this examination, businesses can learn about the dangers that they face and develop innovative strategies to protect their content.

Audits also allow companies to take a step back from their current security measures and review the effectiveness of these plans. Businesses can track statistics relating to the security of their confidential information, and if a hacker was able to view these materials, find out the cause of the data breach. Reviews provide insight into what is working and gives companies valuable information they can use to make immediate improvements.