When asked how companies can protect themselves, Schmidt says “They need to properly scope encryption [and] use encryption where it is available.”
According to another expert, BBC.com writer Paul Rubens, “Even if cloud service providers are infiltrated or compelled to disclose data, for example, whatever is encrypted will remain unreadable to unauthorized viewers as long as enterprises retain control of their encryption keys. Additionally, placing the focus on the data rather than on infrastructure helps ensure that data will remain safe even if hardware vulnerabilities are exploited.”