Advantages and Disadvantages of Cloud Computing

More businesses migrate their IT computing to a Cloud service every year. While a Cloud computing service can provide many new opportunities for your company, you must understand the advantages and disadvantages of Cloud computing before you make the switch. Your valuable information and data are an integral part of your company. To keep your IT department working at top productivity and efficiency, find the computing application that can most benefit your company.

Advantages of Cloud Computing

From convenience to security, Cloud computing services can provide a wide range of benefits for your IT operation. If you choose to migrate your IT system to a Cloud computing service, determine all the advantages Cloud services have in store. 

Security and Safety Services

One of the major benefits of Cloud computing services come with their application of safety and security services. These services are delivered through the Cloud’s internet based location. Since the service doesn’t have a hardware element to store information, your data is safe from hardware crashes or physical damage. 

In addition, Cloud services can perform scheduled backups of your stored data and information. Instead of relying on hardware backups or trying to remember to create duplicates, Cloud computing services can ensure the safety of your information. 

Cloud computing services’ online nature also provides access to integrated cyber safety applications. Cloud services typically store data over a range of servers, keeping information safe from system failure. Cloud services also typically provide cyber safety measures to counteract any threats on your information. 

Convenience and Accessibility

Easy access to your company’s data and information and convenient sharing between collaborators is another must have benefit with Cloud computing services. The Cloud’s online-based model for storage provides the ability foremployees to access stored information from any device, whenever they need it. That access can also be used to share projects and stored data with other employees in your company. 

Flexibility of Cost and Growth

Most Cloud computing systems are provided in storage space capacity increments. This benefit allows you to customize the amount of storage you need for your business, without paying for extra space you don’t need. As your company’s information needs grow, add some storage space to your service. This flexibility ensures your business can always store the information and data you need and add on more as you change and grow. 

Disadvantages of Cloud Computing

While making the switch to a Cloud computing service can provide many benefits, there are some downsides that come with the move. Some disadvantages can be mitigated with proactive planning or application implementation, while others are simple downsides of one computing service over another. 

Security

While security is also listed as an advantage of Cloud computing, it can be a potential downside. With the Cloud being based on the internet, cyber threats become a natural risk. From ransomware threats typing up access to your information to cyber criminals causing theft of your private data, the online world is full of potential risk for your stored content. While this is a concern, anti-virus and anti-cybercrime applications and programs can be implemented to help lower the risk of this Cloud computing disadvantage. 

Network Dependency

Another potential downside to Cloud computing comes with the dependency on good network connectivity. Being based on the internet means that Cloud computing services are obviously subjected to the power of the network they’re connected to. This means, your business could lose access to its data and information if the internet connectivity crashes in the office, if an employee tries to access somewhere without wifi, or a wireless connection is slow. 

Connectivity also applies to the Cloud computing services provider you get your application through. Each Cloud provider also relies on the connectivity to their own network to successfully host their Cloud services to consumers. If your Cloud computing provider experiences network issues, you could also temporarily lose access to your stored data and information. 

Vendor Lock-In

While many Cloud computing services boast the ease to migrate your IT services to the Cloud, moving vendors from that service can pose some issues. Moving your data and information from a hardware or software system to a Cloud based service can be quick and simple, but many services don’t support an easy move away from Cloud services or from one Cloud provider to another. 

Know the Pros and ConsThere are both advantages and disadvantages to making the switch to a Cloud computing service to store your data and information. While the downsides are real, many are easy to foresee and mitigate. The many advantages of Cloud based computing typically outweigh the downsides for many companies IT needs. From accessibility and easy sharing to security measures and custom flexibility, Cloud computing services can be a game changer for businesses of all sizes.