June 24, 2014
You're waiting for your flight to depart, when you hear the worst news possible – your flight is delayed – just what you needed. Starting an important business trip this way is never a good sign. You have a tight schedule and you planned to finalize your presentation when you arrived, but now you're trapped for who knows how long?
If your business uses cloud computing, being stuck – while not ideal – doesn't have to affect your ability to complete your presentation. With cloud computing, instead of sitting around and waiting for your flight to depart, you can connect remotely and still complete your work.
Culture and Myths
There are many myths that exist related to cloud computing. Today we are going to separate the myths from the realities – allowing you to know what you can expect if you’re using cloud services.
Cost of Cloud Computing
Myth: Cloud computing is expensive.
Fact: It's scalable; you only pay for what you use.
While your entire business is connected to the Internet, you only pay for the applications and services your employees use. Cloud computing isn’t sold like cable TV services. With cable, you can’t pick and choose exactly which channels to have on your plan, so you end up paying for some channels you will never watch. This isn’t the case with cloud computing services today. Gone are the days where you have to upgrade to a service tier just to have access to one feature or service you need.
Security of Cloud Computing
Myth: The cloud is not secure.
Fact: The cloud is more secure than many traditional on-premise infrastructures.
Consider your current business. How many people are in charge of watching over your data and preventing leaks and viruses? Now, consider cloud computing; you’ll have an entire team of experts focusing on protecting your data stored in the cloud. You’ll also have enterprise level infrastructure providing redundancy, backup and recovery services.
You'll Lose Your IT Team
Myth: Your IT staff will lose their job.
Fact: A skilled IT staff helps the cloud unlock its potential.
The cloud is a tool. And just like all tools, its use requires people in your organization for effective implementation. The cloud doesn't replace your staff; it allows them to focus on projects that support your business goals and objectives.
Making Changes
Myth: Changes are difficult.
Fact: Application changes and updates are easier.
Cloud infrastructure isn't deployed at your physical location, but rather, your users access all applications and data using the Internet. In a traditional on-site network, when you install an application or update, you may have to manually access every computer and server individually. Cloud computing allows you to install applications and updates in the cloud and deploy to your employees over the Internet – meaning you can make changes efficiently, to a large number of workstations and users.
One-Size-Fits-All
Myth: The cloud is one-size-fits-all.
Fact: The cloud is scalable.
A major benefit of using the cloud is that it adjusts to accommodate your business. If you need more resources, the cloud can provide for that. If you need to add two more employees, the cloud can provide for that. Your cloud service is as unique as your business, and can adjust as your needs change.
Fads
Myth: The cloud is a fad.
Fact: The concept of the cloud has been around since 1960.
While cloud computing may just be starting to become a solution many businesses are considering, the concept has been around much longer. Cloud computing is no more of a fad than the Internet itself. The two are tied together; the evolution of technologies has allowed cloud computing to become mainstream and a viable option for businesses of all sizes.
Cloud Computing Reliability
Myth: The cloud is unreliable.
Fact: Downtimes are shorter and less frequent than traditional networks.
Every system you can think of will experience downtime. However, when you use cloud computing, your data isn't confined to one location. This means that even if the worst should happen, all of your files and applications are safe and you can get back up and running much faster than you could in a traditional network configuration.
Don't let the myths keep you away from an innovative business solution. Request a consultation with a cloud specialist to discuss cloud computing solutions for your business, and to ask any questions you may have.
