Cloud Service Providers

Centralized Customer Data

For Cloud Service Providers offering software-as-a-service (SaaS) or infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS), the old model of data siloed away in multiple repositories forces customers to log on multiple times to access different applications, and to re-enter preferences from application to application. In this model, customer satisfaction suffers and new services and offerings cannot be directed to customers in a focused manner. Cloud Service Providers also need to protect the security and privacy of data in a multi-tenant environment. When a number of different customers access the same applications in the cloud, how does the provider keep their data separate and protected?

Centralization is the key. It's much easier – not to mention far less costly – to exert control over the security and privacy of data from a central point than it is when every application is associated with multiple sets of customer data.