There were reports this week that Chinese hackers had stolen plans for ASIO's new headquarters in Canberra. While there are fresh reports claiming the security breach actually happened 3 years ago and there is no threat, the issue has still opened up debate over the importance of internet security. It's still not clear how the hack actually occurred, but popular consensus throughout the week was that it was a cyber attack. How or when the information was intercepted is not as important as the fact that it was intercepted in the first place. 

The report on ABC's Four Corners program came the same week that Microsoft committed to building infrastructure for cloud computing in Australia, and the Government announced plans to for a quality control code to govern cloud computing.

So what's the big deal about cloud computing? Why is everyone using it, and why was it the first thing people thought to blame for the ASIO hack? 

The general populace use cloud computing through a server located at a remote location; they store their software and/or data on this server and then access the cloud-based applications through a web browser or a mobile app. 

As mentioned earlier, cloud computing involves a number of computing devices connected through a real-time communication network (most commonly the internet). By having the different devices connected on the 'cloud' you can access any files stored there on any of the devices. This means that you can access the same file on your work computer and your personal computer without having to worry about e-mailing it back and forth or saving and re-saving it to a USB every time you make a change. 

It's a shared resource that makes group projects much easier, as each member of the group can access and work on any of the files that make up the larger project simultaneously, and instantly share those changes with the rest of the group by re-uploading their work to the cloud. Time-zones and physical distance no longer matter, so people can spend less time commuting and more time sharing their work. 

For businesses who own cloud computing servers, the system allows for cheaper infrastructure, less maintenance, improved manageability and the ability to quickly adjust and re-direct resources to meet fluctuating areas of demand. 

For businesses and individuals alike, storing items on the cloud as well individual devices allows a back up, should the personal devices ever be corrupted or stolen. 

In terms of security against hacking, cloud computing is two-edged sword. On the one hand, security can improve due to centralisation of data. Providers of cloud computing have greater resources than most individual users, and are able to devote large amounts of time and money to solving security issues and protecting against breaches. On the other hand, however, as data is distributed over more devices and a wider area, often across a network being used by many unrelated users, the complexity of security and the potential for breaches is greatly increased. The service provider has access to any and all information users choose to store on the cloud, and could potentially alter or even delete that information, either accidentally or purposefully.

If you own a home NAS device you can actually create your own cloud and keep all of your data on your own server. This allows you to have your data accessible and backed-up, without having to rely on an external provider. Of course this means that you are in charge of security and consistently backing up your own data.

It's important to remember that if you keep a file on your personal device as well as a cloud, that means that there are at least two potential access points for someone to retrieve that data. You need to be aware at all times of the security of any wireless networks you're using, and the physical location of your devices - don't leave your laptop, mobile phone or tablet (which are undoubtedly automatically logged in to at least some of your accounts) in the open, where anyone could steal them. 

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