Pros and Cons of Cloud Computing

If you’re wondering whether to switch to the cloud, the pros and cons of cloud computing may seem confusing at first.

In this article, we’ll go over the basics of cloud computing and lay out all the advantages, disadvantages, and variables to consider. By the end, you’ll have a good idea of what cloud computing entails, and whether it’s right for you or your business.

What is Cloud Computing?

Cloud computing encompasses certain computing services over the internet (a.k.a. the cloud), such as storage, applications, softwares, and other services.

Companies can rent these cloud resources instead of creating and maintaining their own IT infrastructures. This saves companies a lot of time and money by allowing them to only pay for the cloud services that they use, as well as making it easier to build as they grow and utilize faster, more flexible resources.

What are the Benefits of Cloud Computing?

Reduce infrastructure costs

In-house data storage can end up costing a lot of money (and time) in installation and maintenance. After the initial cost of purchasing a new server, installation, maintenance, and repairs can hike up the price. Alternatively, if company IT employees handle the installation themselves, precious time can be wasted and efficiency compromised.

Less IT team maintenance

As mentioned above, in-house data storage requires an extensive team to manage and maintain servers. Recruiting, training, and maintaining an effective team can be costly and time consuming. When using cloud services, cloud service providers take care of the maintenance and backups.

Consolidates data

With cloud storage, data is automatically consolidated across all data centers. This effectively makes syncing unnecessary, and makes it possible for companies to know where their data is at any given moment.

Defends against disaster

Data loss can be a huge disaster for any company. In the United States, data breaches can cost companies an average of $7 million. When using cloud-based storage, as opposed to on-site servers, data is significantly more secure because data is backed up to multiple servers.

Prevents unplanned downtime

Data center outages can cost companies a lot of money. On average, every minute lost in unplanned downtime can cost a company $5,600. That means that an hour of unplanned downtime can cost a company a whopping $300,000, not to mention the effect on customers and company reputation.

Enhances collaboration

Cloud computing makes it possible for multiple colleagues to collaborate together on projects simultaneously and in real-time. This means that everyone on the team is working on the most updated versions, and this does away with old versions and wait time.

In addition, remote working is becoming more popular and effective for many companies, and cloud computing makes it easy to work together from multiple locations.

Remain scalable

During company expansion, companies can increase their cloud storage quickly, and with calculated cost risks, instead of buying and installing new equipment. The ability to increase and decrease cloud storage easily, companies can quickly evolve or scale back according to their needs, reducing the costs and risks of expansion.

Increase automation

Instead of scheduling backups around daily operations with in-house servers, cloud computing automates routine backups so that IT teams do not have to take time out of their work schedules to maintain backups.

Source: Unsplash 

Save on space

This may seem like the most obvious differentiation between in-house servers and cloud computing: in-house servers take up physical space, and this means that companies need to rent enough office space to accommodate equipment and take potential expansion into consideration. Cloud computing can save a significant amount of money in space, especially for small businesses that are just starting out.

Ensure compliance

Data regulations can be difficult and time-consuming to understand and ensure compliance. By using a cloud storage service provider that operates according to updated regulations, companies can feel secure in their compliance and save precious time that would be spent in maintenance.

What are the Disadvantages of Cloud Computing?

Limited control

The cloud infrastructure is owned by the service providers, which means that companies need to consider how much control they want over their service. The provider’s end-user license agreement (EULA) explains the control and control limits that the provider has over the infrastructure. Typically, data and applications are not controlled by the provider, but the infrastructure is owned and controlled by the provider.

Vendor lock-in

Another disadvantage that comes with cloud computing is the possibility of complications when switching between vendors with different platforms. Data may be vulnerable during a migration between vendors, so this means that a good service provider must be able to migrate data in a safe and secure way.

Slow backup and restore

With cloud computing, backups and restores may take longer than in-house servers. Luckily, backups can run without work disruptions, but it’s a factor to keep in mind. Whole servers may take awhile to restore, while individual files and data won’t take long at all.

Internet reliance

A big factor and disadvantage to cloud computing is that it relies completely on the internet. If the internet is down, you cannot access anything from the cloud. However, most businesses rely on the internet for most tasks and tools, so cloud computing is no different from the existing online platforms that businesses typically use.

Internet use

Another internet factor that affects cloud computing is that large cloud backups can slow down the internet performance. This means that large backups can affect the internet speed during work hours. This is especially true for small businesses who may not have high internet bandwidth and speed. A good service provider can suggest solutions for this problem.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Cloud Computing (At a Glance)

Below is a comprehensive list detailing the pros and cons of cloud computing. Some advantages come with certain disadvantages (or considerations), so this list can help you weigh your options and decide if cloud computing is right for you.

Advantages:

• No cost of infrastructure
• Minimum management and cost
• No administrative or management hassles
• Easy accessibility
• Pay per use
• Reliability
• Data control
• Data backup and recovery
• Huge cloud storage

Disadvantages:

• Good internet connection & bandwidth required
• Downtime
• Limited control of infrastructure
• Restricted or limited flexibility
• Ongoing costs
• Security
• Vendor lock-in
• Technical Issues

Takeaway

All in all, the pros and cons of cloud computing are pretty straightforward. It seems that cloud computing is the platform of the future, and comes with many advantages. Like any technological service, it may come with some disadvantages, but the right service provider can help avoid or reduce complications.