June 29th, 2010
The term "cloud computing" is used frequently today but many people don't really understand what it is and how it can affect their organization. In working with our clients, we have fielded many questions on this topic and thought it would be helpful to share the top 10 things we are asked about.
- What IS cloud computing? The "cloud" simply refers to the Internet. This was born from the traditional picture of connecting to the Internet and the graphic representation often used was a cloud as you would see in the sky. To complete the definition, this is simply using the Internet to perform tasks which would traditionally have been performed on a computer located within your office walls.
- What are the benefits? There can be many benefits to using the cloud based upon what your organization does. For example, if you are sharing large amounts of data between several offices having it on a virtual server might be beneficial. Also, web based applications that can be used seamlessly by people traveling without having to connect back to the office can save a lot of time and frustration.
- What are the drawbacks? The single largest drawback to relying on the cloud for your computing services is that you are 100% reliant on your connection to the Internet being up at all times. If you lose your Internet connection and you have moved all of your systems into the cloud, you will be at a standstill until the connection is reestablished. You can mitigate this with connection redundancy if it is available at your business location but it does mean an additional monthly expense to do so.
- How do I know if it's right for my organization? A thorough evaluation of your business goals as they relate to the technology you use to support your organization will be necessary to figure out if the cloud can help you or not. You need to look at how you use technology today and what challenges you are facing, plus look at how you think your organization will evolve in the coming years. After doing this, you can determine what types of cloud-based solutions might be right to support your organizational goals.
- Is it safe? Data stored in the cloud is as safe as any other transmission over the Internet. You should implement your solutions ensuring that data is encrypted not only while traveling to and from your cloud solution, but also when being stored and backed up on the other end. If properly designed, this can be as safe as any other solution you could implement locally.
- If I move to the cloud, is there an additional monthly fee I have to pay? The short answer is yes. The slightly longer answer is that you may be paying this today anyway in the form of hardware maintenance and software fees, some of which could be eliminated by moving to the cloud.
- Can I move some things to the cloud and keep some in my local infrastructure? Yes. Not all applications and hardware should be in the cloud for all organizations. The real key to using cloud computing well is to figure out which ones will provide the most value by moving them and which should be kept local.
- What if I migrate and I don't like the results? There is a risk here as your migration costs could be significant and some cloud solutions require a long term contract to avoid setup fees. That said, you can weigh the costs and benefits of rolling back at any time and do what is right for your organization in the long run.
- Will my data be shared with other companies if it's hosted in the cloud? A reputable provider will take the right steps to ensuring the proper segmentation of your data, but if there are certain requirements based upon your industry, be sure to ask this question before making a decision on a provider.
- How do I get started? Talk to your IT department (internal or external) and have them look at what options are available and appropriate for your needs. While this is a technology implementation, it is more of a business decision about what best fits your organization today and in the future.
