The proliferation of cloud computing has enabled businesses across the globe to streamline their operations in a variety of ways. The cloud's abilities to ease and expedite data storage, access, backup and sharing – the last of which encourages workplace collaboration – are perhaps the most widely cited reasons for adoption. There are many other benefits on top of these, such as the cloud's ability to a significantly reduce a company's carbon footprint and the capability of an organization that uses cloud computing to quickly globalize its workforce. 

Yet despite these positives, the threat of data breaches continues to be a serious concern for the vast majority of chief executives. Recent high-profile attacks against Sony Pictures, bitcoin, Home Depot, Target and a host of others, have renewed these widespread fears. For some business leaders, their lack of faith in cybersecurity measures has led them to avoid the cloud altogether. However, for many other operations, as the news cycle continues to tell us, the advantages of cloud computing are too beneficial to ignore.

Marriott offers the cloud to guests through IBM partnership
Marriott, the popular hotel chain, has reached a deal with IBM that will bring the software company's cloud service to more than 4,000 properties across the globe. Robert LeBlanc, senior president for IBM Cloud, said that business leaders are beginning to gain a better understanding of the importance of the cloud in the digital era. Bruce Hoffmeister, global chief information officer of Marriott International, echoed this sentiment.

"Marriott continually transforms its technology to ensure we provide a seamless and enjoyable experience for guests throughout their entire stay," Hoffmeister said. "IBM Cloud provides the analytics to see early stage data patterns and the scale and flexibility to enable timely, innovative new services that will meet guests' expectations in a predominantly digital world."

Denver cloud service provider raises $3.9 million in venture capital
Dizzion, a computer technologies company based in Denver, recently announced that it has raised $3.9 million in venture capital to grow its workforce and business operations. The company makes virtual computer desktop services that help workers implement cloud-based applications into their daily routine.

"Desktop virtualization is expected to grow to a $5.6 billion industry, and we believe this market has the potential to expand further as corporate computing adapts to cloud-based technologies," Joe Zell, general partner of Grotech Ventures based in Denver, told the news outlet.

Using the cloud? Consider biometrics
Businesses that are heavily immersed in the cloud computing revolution, such as IBM and Dizzion, should invest in biometric security and encourage their clients to do the same. Companies of all kinds are already investing in a wide range of cybersecurity strategies, such as encryption and data dispersion. While these tactics can be useful and quite often worthwhile, they are not enough for businesses that need to secure large batches of information and keep hackers at bay.

Biometrics is a burgeoning preventative measure that can work well with companies of all sizes. This form of data center security requires personal identification such as fingerprints or voice and facial recognition to enable access control to only the right employees. And as more and more companies adopt cloud computing and other kinds of centralized data storage, biometrics will only become a bigger and more important part of the business world.

Meanwhile, dual-access systems might just be the most effective type of cybersecurity on the market. This kind of biometric security mandates the use of two separate IDs from two different people at the same time. While engineers are still developing this innovation, it has been shown to be the most effective type of biometric technology.