10 Cloud Computing Myths and Realities: Sorting Fact from Fiction
“Cloud computing is cheaper.” “Cloud computing is more expensive.” “You can’t control your data in the cloud.” “You can’t secure your data in the cloud.”
Despite the fact that cloud computing has been around for several years now, there is still a great deal of misinformation regarding the cloud, how it works, and how businesses can benefit from it. Some of these myths even directly contradict each other, adding to more confusion. In this article, we hope to clear some of the confusion by busting some of these cloud computing myths and presenting the facts.
Myth #1. Cloud Computing is Cheaper, Always
Like any other form of IT infrastructure in business, the cost is dependent on how efficiently it is used. The same goes for the cloud. Something that needs to be running all the time might run more efficiently and more cost-effectively on a small, dedicated server, whereas your applications with ever-changing demands and workloads may cost less if they are moved to the cloud, where your costs can be adjusted based on usage.
Myth #2. Cloud Computing is Always Really Expensive
The reality is that cloud computing servers are scalable, so you only pay for the applications and services you and your employees use. As a result, this can make cloud computing a great deal less expensive than having on-site servers for various applications. However, there are many options to make sure that you optimize your cloud computing system to best suit your company’s needs and budget, such as hybrid cloud computing.
Myth #3. You Can’t Control Your Data in the Cloud
Many businesses fear that, without the on-site equipment, they lose the freedom to access their data and applications whenever they choose. However, the opposite is actually true. In fact, with cloud computing, businesses can access their data whenever they want, and more importantly, wherever they want.
Myth #4. Your Data Isn’t Secure in the Cloud
Data stored in the cloud, in terms of IT security, is equally if not more secure than data stored on-premises. This is partly due to the fact that the security is managed by the specialized team employed by your cloud provider, so the security is not purely your responsibility. Plus, data stored in the cloud is less vulnerable to physical damage, such as damage from natural disasters.
Myth #5. Cloud Computing Removes the Need for IT Support
The cloud doesn’t replace your IT staff, and just because your cloud provider offers cloud support doesn’t mean that using cloud computing in your business will remove the need to employ IT professionals. What it does mean is that your IT staff will be able to focus their efforts elsewhere and to help you see the maximum benefit from cloud computing.
Myth #6. Cloud Computing Requires More IT Support
Again, even though the initial onboarding process of migrating over to the cloud might require a bit more effort, overall, how much IT support you need won’t likely change much. What may change is where those support efforts are targeted.
Myth #7. The Costs and Challenges of Cloud Migration Outweigh the Benefits
Some believe that, along with the misconceptions regarding the high costs of cloud migration, there are also significant challenges that come with it that outweigh the benefits of using the cloud. However, many providers offer a fairly pain-free transition process, making it much more worth your time and effort to realize the fantastic benefits of cloud computing for business. It’s important to have a cloud migration strategy in place and to know where to start in order to make this process as simple as possible.
Myth #8. You’re At Higher Risk for Downtime When You Use Cloud Computing
Some believe that because there is a single system (the cloud) for data management, you are much more likely to experience downtime as a result. However, the cloud is built on an impressive scale of infrastructure, offering quite a high level of redundancy; if one system fails, there are others to help pick up the slack to make sure that downtime is minimal, and they achieve this level of redundancy at a much lower cost to you.
Myth #9. It’s Hard to Make Changes to Cloud Infrastructure
When you make changes to a traditional network, typically your IT team has to go to each workstation and manually make those changes, a process that can take hours, days, or even weeks depending on the size of your company. When you operate via cloud computing, you can install applications and updates in the cloud and make seamless changes to all accompanying workstations via the Internet much more quickly.
Myth #10. You Have to Figure Out Your Cloud Infrastructure Alone
While a great deal is dependent upon how cloud computing would fit the budget and needs of your business, Customer 1st Communications can help you with your cloud services planning and implementation. We offer cloud IT services and disaster recovery options to fit your budget and our services are easily adjusted to fit your timeframe and business needs. To learn more about our cloud IT services or to schedule a free consultation, call 855-TECH-C1C (855-832-4212) or contact us online.