For many SMEs, moving workloads into the cloud has become almost inevitable; the promise is compelling. Cloud computing offers flexibility, scalability, and access from anywhere. Yet there’s a silent assumption embedded in these decisions; that the cloud is “secure by default.”
The reality is very different.
The Hidden Costs of Default Security
Public cloud platforms such as Microsoft Azure and AWS provide core infrastructure with only the most basic security controls. To achieve genuine protection, organisations must add and pay for additional services; VPN gateways, network firewalls, DDoS protection, monitoring tools, and identity management.
Each of these carries its own cost, its own configuration, and its own management burden. What begins as a cost-effective solution soon becomes a complex web of licences and services that only a specialist can manage confidently. For an SME, this is not just expensive; it’s risky.
Complexity Is the Enemy of Resilience
Security isn’t simply about buying the right tools; it’s about ensuring that those tools work together effectively. In the public cloud, every component sits in its own silo. If the integration is weak, if one layer isn’t updated, or if a misconfiguration occurs, the entire defence chain is compromised.
Many SMEs lack the in-house expertise to manage this complexity day to day. That’s why the “secure by default” myth is so dangerous; it gives false reassurance until the first breach or compliance failure reveals the gaps.
Security Built In, Not Bolted On
At Cerberus Networks, we designed MyCloud Computing around a different principle; that connectivity and compute only deliver value when they are inherently secure. Every MyCloud environment is built with Fortinet enterprise-grade security from the outset.
There are no optional extras and no hidden dependencies. Firewalls, intrusion prevention, secure VPN access, and centralised monitoring are all included as part of the managed service. This ensures that SMEs benefit from secure cloud computing by default; there’s no need to stack bolt-ons to achieve confidence.
Why This Matters Now
Cyber threats are no longer just technical challenges; they are operational and board-level risks. A single ransomware incident or data breach can threaten an SME’s future. For leadership teams, this means cloud strategy and security strategy must be one and the same.
If your first step in the cloud is to ask “what can we add to make it safe?”, then perhaps you’re starting from the wrong place.
The Safer Alternative
Security by design is more than a technical principle; it’s a business advantage. It simplifies architecture, reduces costs, and gives decision-makers confidence that their organisation is resilient by default.
That’s exactly what MyCloud Computing from Cerberus Networks delivers; a secure, high-performance private cloud platform engineered for UK businesses that expect enterprise-grade security, reliable connectivity, and complete control.