Amy Short| Business2community
Whilst commonly painted in the press as an unreliable and risky approach to storing your data, cloud computing is actually an excellent way to create a more agile technological infrastructure for your company and cut costs by reducing capital. The article below hopes to debunk some of the misconceptions surrounding cloud computing which might stand between your company and the successful (and profitable) fulfilment of its objectives for mobility, longevity and efficiency.
1. It’s a fad
Seen as no substitute for the present day computing model, cloud architecture is both credible and efficient. Despite the idea that the cloud is somehow disconnected from current computing (indeed, more than half of all Americans claim they do not use cloud computing) in fact if you are using online banking, social media, eBay or Gmail, you’re already a part of the technological revolution. Big contenders like Apple and Google have been keen to embrace cloud computing, affirming the idea that this is a technology revolution with longevity. Dismissing cloud computing as a nothing more than a passing trend is an oversight that is likely to cost you dearly as you continue to pay top dollar for the hosting and upkeep of your data.
2. It’s not as secure as conventional data servers
It’s name might not inspire confidence, yet cloud computing is actually a very safe and substantial way to store, share and secure your data. Whilst the media has been keen to spread tales of cloud computing’s unreliability, in fact by putting control of the process back into the hands of the organization directly, cloud computing restores command to your business. Although it is important to correct the assumption that cloud computing is accompanied by host-based protection tools, there is no need to rule it out as a useful tool. By not concentrating data in one site (for example by developing a back up strategy based on having separate server locations) and using encryption software and behaviour-based key management services it is easy to build additional security around your data.
3. It’s costly
There is no denying that there will be costs involved in making the switch to the cloud, but as it removes the requirement for IT management in the long term cloud computing will save your business money.
4. It’s complicated
Another misconception about cloud computing is that it is too complex to execute without severe hassle and compromised productivity. Yet with many different types of cloud computing to choose from, your company should have no problem in choosing a compliment to meet your needs and keep things simple for staff and managers alike.
5. It’s meant for big companies
Cloud computing is not the reserve of corporations in the FTSE top 50. By allowing companies to maintain their hardware onsite and simultaneously avoid having to obtain costly software licenses, solutions like virtual desktop infrastructure can help businesses of any size to reduce their expenditure significantly.
6. Changes are always technical rather than strategic
Assuming that the cloud is simply a matter of implementing technological changes to the way your company is run is a big mistake. Plans must be set up to incorporate processes – both strategic and staff derived – to reap the full benefits offered by the cloud. The alignment between corporate strategy and technology encouraged by the cloud is a great way to utilise a world of commodities with the benefit of using internal resources.
7. If the net goes down, the cloud becomes useless
Whilst in principal this is true, you can and should be aware that your net connection can become a point of vulnerability for this computing system and prepare accordingly. Having a backup connection with another provider is a pragmatic and sensible step for any company; indeed in the current business climate it is extremely unlikely that your business would be operating without a connectivity ‘safety net’ anyway.
By bringing about many benefits including scalability, agility and fast provisioning, cloud computing helps businesses at all sizes and to achieve financial growth. In encouraging companies and individuals to find new ways to interact and create innovative new business models, the cloud is an invaluable tool in the journey to making your business adaptable and efficient.
