One of the most frequently cited concerns around cloud computing is security. Users and enterprises won't just trust their data is secure. They want to know where it is and ensure that they can access it when they want from wherever they want. There are still plenty of unknowns when it comes to the cloud. At the Gartner Security and Risk Management Summit 2010, Verizon offered up a handful of tips that both solution providers and enterprises can follow to ensure the cloud computing environments they deploy and use are locked up tight.

"Cloud computing offers businesses so many tangible benefits that it's a shame to see security fears inhibiting adoption of the technology," said Peter Tippett, vice president of technology and innovation at Verizon Business. "While the security concerns are valid, the prescription to alleviate them exists. Simple security actions, such as performing due diligence and embracing risk management, have an enormous impact when done consistently."

Here are some common sense tips to secure the cloud.