Unless you are living under a rock, you have probably read tons of material on cloud technology or maybe you are even using it for your own business or personal use. So, what is cloud computing anyhow? According to Wikipedia, cloud computing is the delivery of computing as a service rather than a product, whereby shared resources, software, and information are provided to computers and other devices as a metered service over a network. Cloud computing is a term for technologies that provide computation, software, data access and storage services that do not require end-user knowledge of the physical location and configuration of the system that delivers the service. For those of you in IT, it typically involves provisioning of dynamically scalable and often virtualized resources.
On the plus side, cloud computing allows a company to test its business plan very quickly without much expense. It can change the whole pattern of business agility at a much lower cost. It can provide for faster development and it allows your company to shift from capital to operational expenses rather quickly and it requires fewer IT resources.
For those of you getting ready to make the jump to the cloud, here’s a look at the downside:
1. The control is no longer yours
When you move services to the cloud, you are no longer directly in control. It’s a major shift in realities that most IT workers have trouble adapting to; you cannot just log onto a server and see what’s going on. You have to open a ticket just like you were an end user. When there are issues, you will have to wait for someone else to fix them! When the CEO or CIO is hollering and breathing down your neck, all you can say is “I have a ticket for that issue” but you can’t give any definitive response as to how it will be resolved or how long it will take. How frustrating is that?
2. One size fits all
Cloud services typically use the latest and greatest versions of whatever software goes into offering the service. However, just because they’re running the latest and greatest, cloud service providers tend to offer the minimal – the same for everyone – and will normally only enable the most popular features – no customization here – unless you are willing to pay even more, of course.
3. You still need in-house hardware and IT staff
Sure, cloud services mean you may have fewer servers to deal with, and there’s less for your IT staff to do in support of the service, but that absolutely does not mean you can do away with all of your servers and lay off your staff. This often comes as a sticker shock to your management.
4. Data might not be cloud-worthy
If your data is sensitive or classified, why would you want to chance it to a cloud? Any applications that provide competitive advantage or contain customer information might not be conducive to the cloud technology.
5. What about bandwidth and size of data?
Cloud computing is not for everyone. If you maintain huge reams of data, it is probably not financially feasible to take advantage of this technology – at least not outsourcing it. You might want to consider doing your own cloud, though. And what about bandwidth needed? The network bandwidth you would need to put the data into someone’s cloud and then to read it back would be enormous and the cost associated with it would be enormous. It would be better to buy your own storage!
When you’re considering a cloud service, make sure you read all the fine print, and walk through specific scenarios with the provider before you sign. Ask about service limits and what features you won’t get when compared to doing it yourself. Remember that using cloud computing does not eliminate the need for IT personnel so you must factor all costs before signing on the dotted line.
Does your company use cloud computing? Are you happy with the service? Comments are always welcome!
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