The cloud refers to using computers owned by others over the internet to process and store data remotely. While a user's data is usually safe in the cloud, it is not completely private as data breaches or weaknesses in a provider's security policies could expose it. However, encrypting data makes it unviewable by anyone without the encryption key, allowing private data to safely exist in the cloud.

1. What exactly is the cloud?

3. Data storage

6. Physical security

7. Internal policies for data privacyA good provider will have a security policy and take it seriously.

9. Internal privacy procedures may becircumvented

11. Encryption Means your data cannot be viewed, even if someone else gets a copy. (Unless they have a key.)

12. Encryption Modern encryption, with a decently sized key, is unbreakableeven by means of modern computers.

13. Encryption Data that has been encrypted can live anywhere, the cloud included, and is not viewable by anyone but the key holder.

14. Hence… + Is a pretty good idea…