What is cloud computing? Simply put, it refers to a set of pooled computing resources and services delivered over the Internet.
Some examples of cloud-computing services are social networking sites, hosted e-mails, project management tools, and sharing of documents, photographs and videos.
Offsite data backup is also a form of cloud computing, as are online banking, electronic health records and various online services provided by government entities such as tax filing.
In general, hardware for cloud computing is inexpensive, uses less energy and is easy to maintain. It is simple to implement and update and it is scalable. Since the cost associated with cloud computing is fixed, it is easier to budget. It also offers flexible and mobile access, abundant data storage and availability of redundancies. Furthermore, cloud computing uses outsourced IT administration, so no need to worry about maintenance.
While there are numerous benefits of cloud computing, the following pitfalls and risks must be carefully analyzed before engaging in a service.
Data security. Since the cloud-computing service is provided by a vendor, you have no control over where or how your data is stored. Budget impact. Monthly payments for cloud computing never end. The ongoing cost may also increase if the cloud grows to accommodate a company”™s future need for higher bandwidth.
Loss of control. It is difficult to control what happens at the host”™s location(s).
Redundancy. You should check to make sure there is redundancy of infrastructure to mitigate the risk of service stoppage due to system failure.
Cost. If you are using cloud hosting, you must pay close attention to your usage.
Downtime. If the remote server goes down, you may be unable to access your data.
Application performance. You should not put an application that provides competitive advantage or contains customer-sensitive information in the public cloud.
Need for human capital. If you do not have the proper staff internally to spend time to learn new things, implementation of cloud computing can be very frustrating.
Service level availability agreements. It is very important to understand the amount you are paying for the quality of services you are receiving.
False promises. Every cloud-computing vendor provides a different level of quality and service.
Regulatory compliance. If your industry must comply with laws and regulations, make sure your provider is able to help you meet those requirements.
Long-term viability. There is always a risk that a cloud-computing service provider may not be around or may change its service levels. There is also a question as to what happens to your data if the service provider goes out of business or is acquired by another company.
Speed and latency. The speed at which you access your data is entirely dependent upon your own Internet connection. If your bandwidth is limited, the data transfer over the Internet will take a long time or may fail.
Paul Okura is president of CMIT Solutions of Southern Westchester, an IT service company in Eastchester. Reach him at pokura@cmitsolutions.com.
