BitDefender Podcast Focuses on "In The Cloud" Technology

Highlights Advantages of Cloud Computing, Points Out Areas to Watch

BitDefender�, an award-winning provider of innovative anti-malware security solutions, recently posted the latest installment of its Total Security Podcast Series - a podcast series designed to provide users with helpful and up-to-date information on security challenges faced by businesses and consumers. This installment of BitDefender's Total Security Podcast Series focuses on the increasingly popular "In the Cloud" technology.

Catalin Cosoi, senior anti-spam researcher for BitDefender, explains what "cloud computing" really means, the advantages for businesses using this strategy, key terms to check out before using any cloud service as well as the security components of operating in the cloud that need to be considered.

One topic covered in the podcast is on key terms that should be researched in detail before a business or consumer considers using any cloud service:

User access - who has access to data, under what form and how is the hiring of such personnel performed?

Regulatory compliance - security certifications and/or external audits are beneficial to the overall security status

Data recovery - what happens in case of disaster; does the cloud service offer complete restoration and how long will it take? Asking them to retrieve old data will show the client how long it takes and if the recovery is accurate

Encryption - make sure all stages of data submission are encrypted and that the encryption algorithms were designed and tested by experienced professionals

Long-term viability - it's important to ask how the data will be returned in case the company goes out of business

"Users also need to be aware of the security issues that threaten cloud computing," says Cosoi. "BitDefender has a very lightweight malware scanner called QuickScan to help users of 'in the cloud' technology. QuickScan runs from the clients' browser, scans all the running processes and reports whether the files are infected or not. BitDefender offers QuickScan free of charge as a browser plugin for Firefox and Internet Explorer or as a debug executable."

To download and listen to this podcast, visit: http://news.bitdefender.com/site/viewPage/multimedia.html.