Today, chances are you rely on cloud computing to solve the challenges faced by all businesses, whether you’re firing off emails on the move or using a bunch of apps to help you manage your workload.
In short, cloud is fast becoming the new NORMAL. By the end of 2015 it’s estimated that 90% of all businesses will be using at least one cloud service.
Cloud computing increases efficiency, helps improve cash flow and offers many more benefits. The cloud will continue to evolve and the latest innovations are helping businesses be more mobile and collaborative.
An on-premises data center is a server, or a collection of servers, that you purchase and keep on site to serve your data storage needs. Some people see this as a disadvantage; you have to purchase the server hardware along with networking hardware. Like any technology, it will age and need to be replaced. Along with the cost of purchasing all of this equipment, you will also need to hire a staff to configure, customize, manage, maintain, and secure it all. These staff members need to be highly trained and keep their skills up to date.
Finally, some people see this model as limited when it comes to scalability. Sure, you can always buy more hardware, but it takes time to bring additional servers online, and that time lost may affect your business.
Reliance on a data center is not all bad; there are a number of advantages to this model. For one, you have complete control over your data and equipment. No one, other than the people you allow, will have access. Because you own the equipment, you also control exactly what hardware and software you are using, making customizations much easier because you don’t need permission from a vendor. Finally, if you are running any legacy systems, you can set up an environment that will cater to these solutions. This gives you flexibility when it comes to migrating to a newer system on your own terms.
In a cloud-based solution, you store your data on someone else’s hardware and infrastructure. Many people are concerned about the idea of giving up so much control. Even though employees at reputable cloud hosting vendors undergo background checks, some companies just aren’t comfortable with someone else handling and possibly accessing their data.
Security is also a concern with the cloud-based option. Even though your vendor is storing your data, you are still ultimately responsible for protecting it. If data is compromised, you will be the one who winds up paying the price. There are companies that feel that if they are going to be responsible, then they are going to be the ones to take on the responsibility of security. Additionally, there is the issue of accessibility. If your internet connection goes down, you can’t access your remote data stores, and for some, that can be a big problem.
Ironically, security is also seen as an advantage of cloud-based hosts. Reputable vendors hire highly trained, experienced staff members to make sure that everything is configured properly, constantly maintained, and adequately secured.
Other benefits that are associated with cloud-based data are cost and scalability. Because you aren’t laying out any up-front costs to purchase hardware and infrastructure that will be outdated, you see instant savings. Also, with cloud computing vendors, you only pay for what you need, so you don’t have servers sitting dormant and waiting to be put to use. This leads into the scalability argument. When you need additional space, it is readily available. It may cost a bit more, but it is there when you need it. Likewise, if your data storage needs scale back, your usage costs will be reduced.
