Seven Harmful Superstitions About Cloud Computing

We debunk the most dangerous myths and superstitions that we got from the prehistoric “pre-cloud” era.

Superstitions VS Healthy Skepticism

No discussion of the emerging IT technologies of the future is complete these days without a mention in the context of cloud computing. One way or another, clouds are penetrating all areas of human activity, displacing outdated or giving rise to completely new models for using computing.

It so happened that some of the technical features of cloud technologies are not always “on the fly” understandable to ignorant IT users, including management and executives who make decisions about the future of companies.

Ignorance always gives rise to fears, from which prejudices and even superstitions are born. To make matters worse, ignorance is sometimes fueled by misinformation from outdated pre-cloud technology providers desperate to prolong their existence.

Sooner or later, the fog dissipates, and the need to go to the clouds becomes obvious – at least by the example of those who, thanks to timely decisions, have long outstripped those who doubted.

Doubts are normal; it is always desirable to accompany the perception of new technologies with healthy skepticism, supported by facts. Here are seven facts to help clear up the most common cloud misconceptions.

1. Local data is protected better than the cloud

Until now, in conversations with managers of enterprises – especially older ones – no, no, yes, there will slip through the hackneyed thesis that it is easier to protect company data from leaks and cyber-attacks when stored locally. In an age where everything from coffee makers and smartphones to crypto exchanges and government servers is hacked, such unfounded skepticism can be unknowingly costly.

Hundreds of new ways of hacking and illegal access to information are constantly appearing in the world. An information security officer (a good information security officer!) Or a subdivision of such employees within an enterprise is an unbearable burden even for many large corporations, not to mention medium and small businesses.

Information security is the credo and “bread” of the cloud provider, the list of services provided to ensure reliability and data protection is the pride of its infrastructure. Cloud providers can afford the very best, highly paid professionals who are not only aware of all new threats, but also able to anticipate new ones.

In terms of storage protection and reliability costs, cloud services are also a cut above on-premises reliability solutions, as redundancy, disaster recovery, antivirus, DDoS protection, and more are integral parts of the cloud infrastructure.

2. Cloud computing is too expensive

The “problem” of the prohibitive cost of cloud computing is usually exaggerated without any economic justification or price calculation. The cost of moving to the cloud does vary from one enterprise to the next, depending on the tasks at hand.

The transition to cloud services based on the Pay As You Go model allows you to prevent significant costs for creating and maintaining your own IT infrastructure of the enterprise. In fact, most cloud providers nowadays offer their services without any upfront fees or cancellation fees.

First of all, enterprise specialists need to decide whether the cloud model will be more cost-effective than creating their own data center.

3. Cloud migration increases downtime

The good old saying “time is money” is always relevant. Regardless of industry, geography, size or organization, any company cannot afford even minimal downtime.

Subject to the basic regulations on the part of the provider, migration to the clouds allows you to do without downtime, save time and money. Most popular cloud service providers guarantee little downtime right in the smooth migration process – even from extremely outdated company servers – and reliable, uninterrupted access over the years.

4. My business is too small for cloud computing

At the dawn of its development, cloud technology was really considered the prerogative of large companies that required huge computing power and complex infrastructure. The evolution of cloud technologies has led, among other things, to lower prices and the “democratization” of cloud services.

Migration to the cloud for small and medium businesses can be extremely rewarding. Not only is cloud deployment cheaper than setting up your own data center, it also saves staff costs.

Finally, large cloud providers provide businesses with multiple services as a single platform. Thanks to this approach, any company can afford to implement the most modern digital services with minimal costs. At the same time, it will get rid of the costs of maintaining its own IT infrastructure and focus on its core business.

5. Clouds are good only for storage and analytics

Data storage and analytics are undoubtedly the most popular cloud services. However, this does not mean that cloud technologies are useful only for technology departments and scientific projects.

Today, cloud spending is growing at its fastest growing in customer service, marketing, sales, manufacturing, and human resources. The right approach to using a continuous flow of accurate and up-to-date information can form the basis of a winning market strategy for any company, regardless of its type and area of ​​activity.

6. I won’t have enough control over the cloud

The rigid framework of cloud solutions is another persistent, legacy myth. Businesses today have a huge choice of options between public, private, and hybrid clouds, or a combination of both.

In the event of a decision to migrate to the cloud, each company has the right to choose its own settings for a variety of access and management parameters. Most often, the degree of flexibility in such settings is chosen based on the company’s own strategy and the skill level of its employees.

7. Clouds are the “digital transformation”

Moving to the cloud is truly driving a company’s competitiveness and success in the digital age. However, cloud computing is far from the only component of digital transformation.

As strange as it may sound, it is IT professionals who are most often subject to the misconception that cloud computing is a panacea, a comprehensive and final solution to all digital business problems.

This is why senior management at the company must clearly articulate the goals of migrating to the cloud. Be sure to base your plans on realistic expectations.