What are the pros and cons of Cloud Computing?

I may have kicked a bee’s nest with this one because this is a highly discussed and often controversial subject.

Cloud vendors will tell you it’s THE BEST THING, EVER, whilst hardware vendors will usually tell you of its shortcomings without considering their own in the same discussion. The reason is cloud computing has been highly disruptive within the IT field over the last decade and a half for many reasons, not least because it has had a serious effect on traditional sales of datacentre equipment such as server and network equipment and the way IT systems are managed and maintained as more and more businesses consume cloud-based services. 

Let’s start with some of the main pros of cloud computing. 

• Scalability and Agility 

You can quickly deploy servers and networks, build applications, or even consume ready-built applications on the cloud and then scale these resources up and down depending on demand more efficiently than using on-premises equipment. 

• Upfront Cost Savings 

Cloud services remove the need to buy and maintain physical hardware, which is often costly for businesses. 

• Accessibility 

You can access cloud services over the internet from any location, which allows remote work and mobility. 

• Infrastructure Management 

The cloud vendor manages the underlying IT infrastructure, reducing the need for IT staff to maintain it. 

And what about some of the main cons of cloud computing? 

• Data Security Concerns 

Putting your data in a cloud service raises additional security concerns, as you give away some control over it. In highly regulated industries, this adds more regulatory and compliance challenges. 

• Network Requirements 

You need a reliable network connection to connect to any cloud service, and any unexpected downtime or slow access can ruin your day if all your users start complaining at once. 

• Vendor Lock-In 

Moving data into a cloud service is often easy (they do want you to use their service, after all), but getting it back out again can sometimes be challenging and limit flexibility. 

• Cost Management 

You need to manage resources – and who can create those resources - efficiently; otherwise, you’ll be hit with unexpected bills. 

At Vorago, we firmly believe that one size doesn’t fit all and that any solution must be the right one for the customer. I’d always suggest something like Microsoft 365 for business applications, such as email because managing and maintaining this on-premises adds very little value to the business these days. But would I recommend moving a complex on-premises application that has many integrations to other applications directly to the cloud without some thought? Absolutely not. Nor would I recommend a lift and shift of an entire IT estate without performing a full end-to-end cost analysis.

A key point here is people. If the relevant people are engaged well and the technologies are discussed properly, then you’ll end up with the right solution for the customer. 

As such we like to view cloud solutions as another set of tools in the box that can be used to drive business innovation, reduce costs (in some areas!) and meet an actual business requirement in the best way possible. Cloud computing should never be seen as the ‘fix all’ answer, nor should it be disregarded entirely.

Please feel free to add your opinions or get in touch if you’d like to discuss more on this topic.