Advantages and Disadvantages of Cloud Computing

Cloud computing is a term used to describe the delivery of on-demand computing resources—hardware, storage, databases, networking, and software—to businesses and individuals via a network (usually the internet). Cloud computing enables organizations to access and store information without managing their own physical devices or IT infrastructure. 

As the amount of data being generated and shared continues to increase and consumers demand more access to online services, it has become more difficult for companies to continue operating their businesses on in-house computing servers. 

Similar to the way you check your email inbox online through a web browser, cloud computing enables companies to access and manage resources and applications anywhere there’s an internet connection. Cloud services are also typically managed and maintained by a third-party service provider, allowing IT teams to rapidly adjust compute and storage without having to pay upfront infrastructure costs or set up and manage yet more systems and applications. 

You can choose public, private, or hybrid cloud deployments and the service model based on the level of flexibility, control, and management you need. The three main types of cloud service models include: 

• infrastructure as a service (IaaS): on-demand access to compute, storage, networking, and virtualization
• platform as a service (PaaS): hardware and software resources needed for cloud application development
• software as a service (SaaS): full-application stack as a cloud service, including the maintenance and management from underlying infrastructure to application software

You can spin up new instances or retire them in seconds, allowing developers to accelerate development with quick deployments. Cloud computing supports new innovations by making it easy to test new ideas and design new applications without hardware limitations or slow procurement processes.

Cloud computing gives your business more flexibility. You can quickly scale resources and storage up to meet business demands without having to invest in physical infrastructure.

Companies don’t need to pay for or build the infrastructure needed to support their highest load levels. Likewise, they can quickly scale down if resources aren’t being used.  

Whatever cloud service model you choose, you only pay for the resources you actually use. This helps you avoid overbuilding and overprovisioning your data center and gives your IT teams back valuable time to focus on more strategic work. 

Cloud storage enables you to make data available anywhere you are, anytime you need it. Instead of being tied to a location or specific device, people can access data from anywhere in the world from any device—as long as they have an internet connection.

Despite popular perceptions, cloud computing can actually strengthen your security posture because of the depth and breadth of security features, automatic maintenance, and centralized management.

Reputable cloud providers also hire top security experts and employ the most advanced solutions, providing more robust protection. 

Cloud providers offer backup and disaster recovery features. Storing data in the cloud rather than locally can help prevent data loss in the event of an emergency, such as hardware malfunction, malicious threats, or even simple user error. 

Of course, like any technology, there are pros and cons to cloud computing. 

For example, one of the most common drawbacks of cloud computing is that it relies on an internet connection. Traditional computing uses a hardwired connection to access data on servers or storage devices. With cloud computing, a bad connection could keep you from accessing the information or applications you need. 

Even top cloud service providers can experience downtime due to a natural disaster or slower performance caused by an unforeseen technical issue that might impact connectivity. You could be blocked from accessing cloud services until the problem is resolved. 

Other disadvantages of cloud computing include: 

• risk of vendor lock-in 
• less control over underlying cloud infrastructure
• concerns about security risks like data privacy and online threats
• integration complexity with existing systems 
• unforeseen costs and unexpected expenses

The good news is that you can address most of these disadvantages by doing your research and carefully evaluating cloud service providers and their service models. Many of the issues that arise when migrating to cloud result from a lack of clear understanding about what providers offer, pricing models, and what security tasks remain the responsibility of the customer. In addition, choosing an open cloud platform can give you more flexibility and freedom to build and operate where you need and seamlessly integrate with the services you want. 

At this point, it’s clear that the advantages outweigh the limitations. Most companies today aren’t considering whether they should migrate to the cloud but what they should migrate. 

The cloud delivers more flexibility and reliability, increased performance and efficiency, and helps to lower IT costs. It also improves innovation, allowing organizations to achieve faster time to market and incorporate AI and machine learning use cases into their strategies. These primary benefits can also translate into other related benefits that can help to boost productivity, support remote workforces, and improve operational efficiency. 

Plus, it’s important to remember that embarking on your own cloud journey isn’t necessarily an all-or-nothing scenario. For example, many businesses are finding that adopting a hybrid approach can help extend the capacity and capabilities of existing infrastructure while still operating in the environment that works best for the overall business. 

Before making any decisions, we recommend learning more about how cloud computing works, so you can choose the best deployment and service model for your business.