Cloud-Based Storage Systems and Data Security in Organisations: An Explorative Review

Abstract

The increasing dependence on digital data has made effective data storage and protection an essential issue in organisations around the world. Data loss, cyber threats, poor infrastructure, and high costs of service maintenance of the traditional on-premises storage are the persistent issues that many organisations in Nigeria are grappling with. Due to this, cloud-based storage systems have been introduced as an option to enhance data management and security. This paper will consider the cloud-based storage systems and effective data protection within the context of Nigerian organisations, with particular regard to the impact of cloud-based storage on data protection and the issue of data security within the cloud environment, and how it can be effectively maintained. The approach used in the study is literature-based, relying on the available scholarly materials, policy documents, and empirical studies on cloud computing, data protection, and organisational information systems. Results of the reviewed literature show that various cloud-based storage systems have the potential to address the protection of the data, in terms of data availability, confidentiality, integrity, and disaster recovery, due to the availability of the following features: encryption, automatic backups, access control measures, and monitoring of the system at all times. Such advantages are of special importance to the Nigerian context, where organisations are usually limited by the unstable power supply and a lack of ICT infrastructure. Nevertheless, the research also indicates that Nigerian organisations have a number of difficulties associated with the provision of efficient data protection with the help of cloud-based storage systems. Such difficulties are the lack of technical skills, the insufficient knowledge of the cloud security roles, the lack of a data governance system, the problems of regulatory compliance, and the problems of infrastructure. The research concludes that although cloud-based storage systems have a huge potential of enhancing data security in the organisations of Nigeria, their application is influenced, to a great extent, by the organisational capacity, adherence to regulatory requirements, and commitment of the management to ensure safety in using cloud computing. The research suggests improved data protection policies, employee education, regulatory assistance, and strategic cloud adoption to improve the results of data security.