In the last few years, a lot of people have taken a close look at something known simply as “The Cloud.” However, if you’re like many businesses, then you may have some concerns about how safe and effective using the Cloud would really be.
What is the Cloud?
With the rise of networking capability, it has finally become possible for individuals and companies to disconnect themselves from their own servers and start relying on the processing power of others to get things done. In effect, the Cloud is remote hosting on a much larger and more powerful scale, with a variety of advantages and disadvantages for you to consider.
Major Advantages of the Cloud
The biggest advantage of the Cloud is its ability to scale on an as-needed basis. In a typical server setup, a business will install servers and run its operations from there – and for most companies, it’s very important to be able to serve all visitors in a timely manner. The problem with this approach is that peak usage is a relatively small amount of time each week, so you’re paying to run machines that aren’t being used. By offering the ability to provide power on-demand, companies can avoid paying for more server time than they actually need – or, under flat-rate plans, be able to use as many resources as possible, even if more of them need to be directed into one part of the Cloud to help it.
The Cloud also offers an enhanced degree of power for labor-intensive tasks, and most locations hosting Cloud servers are designed to provide capabilities well in excess of what any one company, however large, will need. This isn’t important for small businesses, but larger companies can save money while still getting the processing power they need and a dedicated support staff to ensure things are still running. Finally, the Cloud offers the ability to run one program on many different machines, all at the same time, with little or none of the processing struggles that a centralized location has to deal with.
Major Disadvantages of the Cloud
There are a few disadvantages that you should be aware of if you plan to do business in the Cloud. Among these, you’ll see things like:
- Loss of personal control over the systems
- Lack of permanently dedicated hardware (which allows opportunities for hacking through vulnerable points)
- Vulnerability to speed throttling by Internet providers (especially if the Cloud service is particularly demanding and does not have a special agreement)
- Unexpectedly high costs if the pricing model is not understood properly
As you can see, there are drawbacks – though the last one is the one most likely to affect your company. It cannot be emphasized enough that it’s important to pay attention to the costs associated with working in the Cloud, and this is particularly true if you have high usage requirements. Sudden surges in user interest or needs can incur a variety of additional costs from your Cloud provider, and you should to have a good idea of how much processing power you’ll need before you even begin comparing Cloud providers.
Is It Safe?
The only way to keep content safe is to ensure that there is no way to access it – and nothing beats simply disconnecting a machine from the network to ensure it can’t be hacked. However, on the whole, the Cloud is reasonably safe. It isn’t perfect, but the same can be said of any networking system. Just be careful with critical information and encrypt your data/transfers whenever possible, as much as possible. Some of the largest companies on the Internet rely on the Cloud. It is a great resource and can save you money, just be careful with the selection of your provider, read the fine print, and encrypt your data. FBN
Michael Merrill is the marketing director for CommSpeed Wireless and has been heavily involved in the WISP (wireless ISP) industry for the last eight years. His family has been in the communications industry since the 1950s. His grandfather was a cable pioneer who built out many systems across the U.S., including what is now Cox cable in Phoenix.
Merrill can be reached at 928-772-1111 or mikemerrill@commspeed.net.