As we share more data, our concerns over privacy have become more pressing. Software developers are on the frontlines of cloud innovation and are often the first to field users’ questions and concerns about privacy. We recently spoke with Gary Davis, vice president global consumer marketing for McAfee, about the security topics users are most concerned with when it comes to the cloud. “We are seeing a lot more consumers concerned about privacy,” said Davis. “They’re asking, ‘How do I make sure I get more and more of my stuff into the cloud and how do I ensure I can pull it back if I need or want to?’”
If you’re not ready to answer that question, you may lose customers and opportunities. You need to make sure your software will give your customers the experience they want online while ensuring that their private life isn’t at risk for exposure.
Hackers See the Cloud As a Resource
Hackers are people too. And everything that makes the cloud great for developers and users also makes it great for cybercriminals. It becomes a tool that helps them reach their goals. Your first step is to understand the different security risks that Platform as a Service (PaaS) environments and Software as a Service (SaaS) environments present. Understanding those differences will help you to address and prioritize the risks as you develope your software. There are plenty of resources available through the Open Web Application Security Project.
Tell Your Privacy Story
You know that your customers and potential customers are concerned about privacy. So if you’ve cracked the privacy nut and feel confident in your app, you should share that with your users. Depending on the type of app, it may even be one of your lead marketing messages. Business apps and apps that deal heavily with private information will be more alluring to your customer base if it’s clear that you have addressed privacy and cloud issues. Tell that story—in your feature list, on your blog, and definitely in your Frequently Asked Questions list. How you address privacy in the cloud may differentiate you from your competition.
Want more? Register for Intel® Software Adrenaline and follow us on Twitter, so you have everything at your fingertips.
