Cloud Computing: Advantages and Disadvantages

Cloud computing is an Internet-based network model that enables on-demand access to a shared pool of computing resources such as networks, servers, storage, applications and services provided by a third party. It is becoming a standard method of software and hardware systems operation and provides several advantages including potential cost savings for many businesses. Recently though, as witnessed with the Amazon cloud outage that rocked the IT world in April and knocked several popular websites offline including Qurora, Foursquare and Reddit, the risks and disadvantages associated with cloud computing were highlighted. For many, this incident called the cloud’s overall reliability into question.

As with any major business decision, if you are considering the use of a cloud-based system in your organization, you should carefully evaluate both its advantages and disadvantages to ensure it is in line with your business goals and specific network needs.

Advantages
Scalability
Scalability is a key aspect of cloud computing, providing the flexibility to scale your IT infrastructure up or down depending on your business needs. This on-demand, pay-as-you-go approach offers your business the ability to match your capacity to your demand and lessens the need to over-provision for future network growth.

Cash Flow
Cloud computing lowers the investment in internal software applications and hardware systems and shifts the costs to a usage-based model. This can in turn create a more ‘simplified’ network structure that lessens the need for internal IT staff to support and maintain it. Keep in mind, it does not eliminate the need for IT support, especially cloud-specific service providers who are better able to help your business avoid outages such as the Amazon incident.

Increase Staff Mobility
Cloud computing inherently supports the mobility of your employees as it no longer matters where they are located as long as they have an Internet connection.

Disadvantages
System Outage and Downtime
If the Internet is down or the service provider experiences a system outage you will not have access to your business’ data which can create significant ramifications for your business and lead to a loss of productivity and revenue. Since your data and applications are most likely in another state, you have no physical access in an emergency and therefore fewer recovery options. You have to wait in line like everyone else. Amazon’s recent outage was only one of several that have occurred within the last year including Yahoo mail, Google Gmail, Windows Live Hotmail, NetSuite and Intuit, illustrating the prevalence of this issue even among the top service providers in the cloud.

Data Security
Cloud computing can bring substantial privacy and confidentiality risks to your business’ sensitive data and information. By storing your data on third-party servers, you have limited knowledge and control over how it is secured and run the risk of compromising your information should the provider have inadequate systems and procedures in place.

Loss of Control
If something goes wrong with a cloud-based software application you are completely dependent on the provider to resolve the issue. If the provider is unable to address and resolve the issue quickly, your business may experience significant issues including time, productivity and revenue loss.

While the above describes some of the more prevalent advantages and disadvantages of cloud computing, it is not all-inclusive. Additional research is necessary to understand the impact on and potential risks to your organization that accompany cloud-based systems so that the appropriate steps can be taken to mitigate any problems that may arise. 3D Corporation can assist you in determining your business’ network needs, help inform and explain the available options and work closely with you to develop a solution that aligns your technology goals with your business goals. Please visit our website at http://www.3dcorp.us/, email us at info@3dcorp.us, or call us at (360) 671-4906 for more information.

References: “Cloud Computing: Advantages and Disadvantages”, Gunsters Boardroom Brief; “Cloud Computing – Pros & Cons”, RL Computing Blog; “Amazon gets ‘black eye’ from cloud outage”, ComputerWorld.com; “Amazon's Not Alone: 10 Notable Cloud Outages In The Last Year”, CRN.com