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Con's of Cloud Computing

• 2015/06/29 08:24
• Paris

Con’s of Cloud Computing

With Cloud Computing’s popularity increasing every day, it seems logical to want to find out more about it, and from a business point of view - see if it would be beneficial to your company.

Having looked at the pro’s of Cloud Computing on the last blog post, we came to understand why so many use it. However, not everyone wants to invest into the cloud, which leads me onto discussing the points as to why you may not want to jump on the bandwagon. Where there’s a pro there’s a con!

• Technical Issues
• Security
  
• Costs
  
• Limited Control
• Lack of support
  
  

Although you can use the Cloud anywhere where there is an Internet connection, like all technology- there can be some flaws. Even the best cloud service providers will have issues at some point, this can be due to too much pressure and the system may become overwhelmed – there have been some very high profile examples over the last couple of years. However, the most common technical fault is network and connectivity problems. If you do not have an Internet connection or your ISP (broadband supplier) experiences an outage, you will not be able to access any of your applications, server or data from the cloud. This means you will be potentially be unable to access your documents or system for that time period and you’ll need to implement a backup plan.

The other issues with using Cloud computing is the security risk. You need to be aware of the fact that you are surrendering all of your company’s sensitive information into a third-party cloud service provider- even though these providers do implement the very best security standards and industry certifications, storing data and important files on a external service has it’s risks, as does local storage. This is why it is so important to ensure that you’re 100% certain that the service provider you choose is reliable and trustworthy. Companies that have highly sensitive data or must meet certain compliance regulations may need their own personal IT department to keep the data secure.

Due to the cloud being a public service, it is often open to security challenges on a routine basis. This is because the Cloud/iCloud is so popular that it is an attractive target to hackers. For example, iCloud was hacked and celebrities such as Jennifer Lawrence were on the brunt of it as naked photos of her were leaked.

Although when first looking into the costs of Cloud Computing it may seem cheap, dig a little deeper and make sure it has everything you need. This may mean comparing it to either a system you already have or look at in-house software. Once you’ve compared features you’ll need to look into the total cost comparison in the long term.

The prices of Cloud Computing are prone to change, so it’s important to make sure you’re up to date with the latest prices and potential changes to the software. If you have a small business or are running a short term project the Cloud can be pricey. Although it can help you to reduce staff and hardware costs, the overall figure could end up being more expensive than you expected. Typically the cloud is priced per hour, which can be confusing.

It may seem like you have full control when using Cloud Computing, however some users have limited control over the function, and execution of their hosting infrastructure. Cloud providers and management policies may impose certain limits on what customers can do when it comes to control and management of their applications, data, services and with their deployment. Of course this may not be an issue for everyone but it is something that is worth taking into account

If you have an issue with the system or your files and you’re not sure what to do, help isn’t always available when you need it. Sending an email to customer service doesn’t quite cut it if you have to wait up to a week or more for a response. The other option is to pay for support- but again that’s another cost.

Conclusion

So, having looked at the most popular pro’s and con’s it seems fair to say that overall the pro’s do outweigh the con’s. The fact that you can access the cloud anywhere where you have Wi-Fi, you have almost endless storage AND your files are all backed up, are appealing and make life easier for most companies and employees. Although there can be the odd technical difficulties- which sometimes can’t be avoided, spending a little extra to ensure you have someone who will have your back when experiencing problems will pay off in future. And as for security issues- the Cloud is becoming so popular that yes the ‘hackers’ may see it as a more appealing target, but the Cloud will also have people on their team that are just as strong-willed who want to prevent any intrusions and violations.

As long as you have a clear idea of what you/your company needs, then researching different cloud packages and finding one that is suitable for you will change your I.T experience.

If you agree or disagree, or simply have an overall view on Cloud Computing then follow us on Twitter and let us know!

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By Paris Ward