What Are the Pros and Cons of Cloud Computing?
Cloud computing brims with features and capabilities that can prove very useful. But at the same time, it has some limitations you should be aware of. If you are thinking about using more cloud services, knowing the pros and cons of cloud computing will help you make an informed choice. Discover them now.
PROS of Pros and Cons of Cloud Computing
Working with data in the cloud brings you some notable benefits. Here are the key advantages of cloud computing.
Cost Efficiency
Cloud computing is generally more affordable than desktop software, especially when implemented on a medium to large scale. It saves you money on both hardware upgrades and software maintenance.
Increased Mobility
Cloud computing frees your team from an overreliance on office devices. Given adequate access level rights, your team can access data stored in the cloud using their personal devices. It’s called “Bring Your Own Device” (BYOD) and it eliminates many of the limitations of office hardware.
Quick Deployment
Cloud services run over the internet. They don’t have to be deployed on every computer or device in the office. This saves you time and enables you to increase computing resources and capabilities whenever you need, without worrying about the technicalities.
Sustainability
With lower emissions and less waste than traditional computing, cloud computing can be an environmentally friendly alternative. Bear in mind though that some cloud services providers are “greener” than others, so factor this in when making your choice.
Automatic Upgrades and Updates
Cloud computing services handle the technical side of things for you. You don’t have to worry about updating your software or upgrading the data center it runs on. For companies without a dedicated IT staff, or with a small one, cloud computing can virtually eliminate the technical hurdles of adopting newer, better tools, apps, and services.
Better Backup and Recovery
When you use cloud computing, your data gets stored remotely, often on multiple devices across different locations. That makes it less vulnerable to loss, theft, or power outages than if it was all stored on a local server. At the same time, cloud computing services make recovering data and systems a simple process in most cases.
CONS of Pros and Cons of Cloud Computing
What about the disadvantages of cloud computing? What are the cons you should pay attention to?
Third-Party Security Concerns
When you use cloud computing services, you hand over your data to a third-party provider to keep it for you. You need to make sure that the provider secures by uses encryption, multi-layer authentication, and other security measures to keep your data safe from external attacks or inadvertent leaks. Because the data travels over the internet, it may be targeted by attacks that otherwise couldn’t reach it if it was stored locally.
Vendor Lock-in
Migrating data from one cloud computing service to another is not always straightforward. This is usually not a problem when it comes to cloud storage, hosting, or productivity apps, but it may become one when you look at more complex systems like those delivered as Platform as a Service (PaaS).
Network Connectivity Demands
Cloud services are only as fast as your internet connection. Unlike local apps that can run offline, cloud apps cannot run if your connection fails.
Pros and Cons of Cloud Computing – The Bottom Line
For most businesses and organizations, the benefits of cloud computing far outweigh the cons. The cost savings, quick deployment, scalability, and other advantages make it a future-proof investment. But before you buy a cloud service, it’s important to consider the limitations and ways in which you can adapt to them. And most of all, to carefully research and compare providers to make sure you get the best value for your money.
