Advantages and disadvantages of cloud computing

The term “cloud computing” describes the practice of putting data online and then retrieving it from there. It doesn’t save anything to your computer’s hard drive other than downloading a copy of files for offline purposes which will sync with your cloud storage.

Over the past 24 months, the COVID-19 epidemic has acted as a significant motivator and accelerator of cloud adoption, with local businesses increasingly favouring the hybrid cloud model over multi-cloud. This is mostly attributable to the fact that some older workloads and apps are not suitable for cloud hosting and so cannot be used.

Many companies are considering cloud computing because of the many advantages it offers. However, there are some drawbacks that companies must avoid in order to realise the full potential of cloud computing.

We have compiled the ultimate guide to cloud computing pros and cons.

Benefits of cloud computing

Saving costs

Cost saving is one of the main cloud computing benefits. Since there is no requirement for actual hardware, you can save a lot of money on setup and maintenance. Also, you do not require trained employees to maintain the hardware. The cloud service provider handles the procurement and maintenance costs of these items.

Efficiency

In the cloud, programmes and data can be accessed from any computer with an internet connection. Thanks to networked backups, data is safe from being lost in the event of a hardware breakdown. Users can speed up the process of bringing their applications to market by using cloud development.

Flexible and reliable

Depending on personal preference, business requirements, and other factors, customers can select from public, private, or hybrid cloud storage options. With as-a-service alternatives, businesses can select the degree of autonomy they desire. SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS all refer to “software as a service,” “platform as a service,” and “infrastructure as a service,” respectively (IaaS).

Users can tailor-make a solution to their needs by selecting from a set of predefined options. Automatic software integration is one of the many benefits of moving to the cloud. The cloud also provides nearly infinite space for storing data. Adding more space to your account is easy and costs only a small amount extra per month.

Strategic edge

Service providers frequently upgrade their features to present customers with the latest cutting-edge tools available. Because of this accessibility, teams may work together while being dispersed around the globe. Compared to competitors that must allocate IT resources to maintaining infrastructure, your company can respond to changing market conditions with greater agility. By outsourcing infrastructure management to cloud service providers, businesses are free to concentrate on what they do best: creating and enhancing operations.

Disadvantages of could computing

Data security

The cloud is a hosted platform, but it is the customer’s obligation to ensure that their data is secure. There are benefits to having your business data accessible at any time and from any location, but you must also implement safeguards to limit and govern access. It is crucial for businesses to know the whereabouts and security of their data.

Connectivity and downtime

To be successful with cloud computing, you need reliable internet access. If you don’t have access to the internet, you can’t use the cloud. Plus, there is no other option for retrieving cloud-based information unless an offline version has been downloaded which will later sync with the cloud once connected again to the internet.

Just like any other IT infrastructure, the cloud is vulnerable to technical issues including reboots, network disruptions, and downtime. This can be detrimental to a company’s operations and processes however most IT companies have backups in place to maintain up to 99% uptime of the cloud services. 

Governance and control

Implementing and using IT assets in accordance with agreed-upon rules and procedures; controlling and maintaining IT assets; and using IT assets in a way that supports your organisation’s strategy and goals are all aspects of IT governance that need to be taken seriously. With cloud computing, the provisioning, de-provisioning, and operations of infrastructure are not necessarily under IT’s complete control. Because of this, it’s harder for IT to deliver the necessary management of governance, compliance, risks, and data quality.