Despite recent events exposing the downsides of cloud computing, industry experts predict an increase in businesses’ interest in moving their data to the cloud. How come this trend is on a rising path? With cloud computing, every business has the ability to get custom IT services in a simple and fast way and with reduced costs, whether the organization is well-established or an ambitious start-up.
However, some businesses still hold back when it comes to cloud computing deployment. The reasons vary from lack of proper information and experts’ insights to fear of inherent risks related to security, compatibility, and availability:
- Security: Being based on the Internet, cloud computing is seen as more vulnerable to emerging online attacks then the alternative of storing data stored on the company’s private servers. The truth is that security patching is more streamlined in the cloud, where dedicated staff ensures security standards. To be reassured of the level of security and reliability your data is getting in the cloud, examine the cloud service provider’s security policy closely. Moreover, organizations like The Cloud Security Alliance are collaborating with cloud experts and actively promoting best practices and standards for security assurance within cloud computing.
- Compatibility: This is another issue that restrains large organizations from embracing cloud technology. When existing IT infrastructure may not be compatible with cloud technology or too complex to restructure, hybrid clouds might be the answer to data deployment. A third party provider will handle transition and reduce time and costs dramatically with personnel and technology for your business.
- Availability: To what degree is your cloud data available? It is definitely not in your company’s proximity, and this worry stops companies from adopting the cloud, because they don’t have data and service available during interruptions or potential attacks. Once again, make sure you ask your provider the right questions and understand risk management responsibilities of each party.
After reading through these potential downsides of cloud computing, you are probably looking for an answer to what is cloud computing really bringing to my business. I would answer that you need to determine the business impact and IT advantages you want to achieve and understand how your cloud provider can help you manage inherent security risks and configure the cloud environment according to your business context.
