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3 Key Questions about Cloud Computing People are not Afraid to Ask

I have been writing about cloud computing for quite a while now and I have tried to write on topics I thought would be useful to my readers. From my interaction with both insiders and novices, one thing has been made very clear, the process of adopting and migrating to the cloud can look overwhelming, and people have questions. I would like to focus on three that seem the most important.

Why? That is the first and the question asked most often. I have already written articles like "The 3 Greatest Reasons to Move to the Cloud" that answer this in general terms. However, the question is more specific, becoming: Why should I do it? Does it meet my needs?

The answer much focus on the individual company’s business needs and any solution must be specifically tailored to satisfy those needs. So really, there is no easy answer, as each case has to be considered in its particulars. A business considering migrating to the cloud has to start with a strong business case, identify its actual needs – are they only looking at emails and files storage or more complex applications – and discuss all the particulars with service providers.

Is it secure and reliable? This is a question people are definitely asking, as the process requires that potentially critical business data be stored in the cloud, completely out of a company’s control. The services provider must ensure your data is secure and protected for any eventuality and also that you have access to it when required. Choose your provider and service level carefully, based on the level of security and reliability required by your business needs. Ensure that all service providers have very good reputations and credentials, and thoroughly read contracts, policies and standard level agreements to be sure everything meets your needs.

How much will it cost? I think this question needs to go together with how much will I save following implementation, which I discussed in a previous article "How Much Can You Save On Your Cloud Computing Implementation?" The actual implementation costs depend on the complexity and level of services your business requires and the provider you choose, who can give you an estimate. There is no investment to be made in hardware infrastructure and by only paying for what you use, the actual cost of services may be greatly reduced.

These are, in my opinion, the three questions with which a business considering implementing cloud computing needs to start the discussion both internally and with potential services providers. As always with the cloud, there is no one-size-fits-all, and all circumstances and needs must be considered individually to achieve the level of service that best fits the individual organization. And to keep the discussion going, what other questions do you think need to be added to the three above?

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