Advantages and disadvantages of cloud computing

Cloud computing is a way of storing and accessing data over the internet. So, rather than using up the space on your computer’s hard drive, your data is stored in the cloud, which is located on a remote server.

Rather than investing in databases, software, and hardware, cloud computing allows you on-demand access to computing resources via the internet.

Cloud computing is a range of services delivered via the internet. ‘The cloud’ refers to servers that are accessed and kept on the internet, rather than on a physical hard drive or database. 

With an internet connection, cloud computing allows users to download and access data on any device and allows for simultaneous edits in accordance with other users.

Cloud computing often helps to reduce costs for businesses. This is because it doesn’t require hardware investments so you don’t need someone to maintain the hardware and it costs significantly less to store data in the cloud.

With low power, set-up, and maintenance costs, cloud computing eliminates the unnecessary overheads of powering your own infrastructure by providing businesses with customized software hosted on the cloud.

With cloud computing and storage, you can access your files from any device, anywhere in the world, provided you have an internet connection.

The ease of access makes remote and flexible working increasingly streamlined as it allows employees to have continual access to important business documents and data.

Following an increase in acceptance and demand for long-term flexible working, cloud computing allows your company to adapt to the changing business landscape and prepare for the future of remote work.

Every business needs to back up its data and have a disaster recovery plan in place. Cloud storage can store a second copy of important files, which can be accessed quickly in the case of an emergency.

Cloud computing automatically saves and backs-up important data to a remote server or offsite location to prepare for system failure, natural disaster, or power outage. By doing so, data can be recovered and restored quickly after a data loss event allowing businesses to resume work and saving from expensive IT manual restoration costs.

Cloud computing platforms enable employees to work together and collaborate on projects in a secure way, no matter where they are based in the world.

Through an internet connection, cloud computing can make real-time updates for simultaneous working. Stored on a central cloud employees can share and co-author computer files together.

Traditional storage methods such as hard drives can only be accessed via one individual at a time and that user must save changes and edits before anyone else can view them. Cloud computing enables employees to work together and collaborate on documents quickly and easily while sharing knowledge and developing ideas together. 

Rather than worrying about the capacity of your IT infrastructure, cloud computing offers almost limitless storage. Rather than spending large amounts on expensive, space-consuming fixed servers, you can simply scale your cloud storage with the click of a button.

Cloud computing allows businesses to increase or decrease IT resources and storage to meet a change in demand. By allowing companies access to as much data as they need to accommodate their workload, cloud computing scalability is one of the most appealing factors to consumers.

With cloud computing, you have a strategic edge over those businesses that don’t. This is because you have access to the latest applications quickly, without having to spend budget and time on new software and installations.

Cloud servers can scale infinitely due to no physical restrictions being present and have the capability to add or remove applications from your existing storage server.

Cloud computing systems allow you to scale assets, accommodate data growth requirements, and implement new applications to support streamlined work. 

With cloud computing, everything is stored on and accessible through the internet. As a business, you are effectively sharing your information with a third-party cloud computing provider, so you need to know they’re reliable and have systems in place to prevent cyber-attacks.

By placing your business data online, you become susceptible to cyberattacks, data leaks, and data breaches. In order to protect your business and its data, you should educate employees on data security practices, implement multi-factor authentication, and ensure your provider is familiar with security solutions.

Of course, this is not the case with all cloud computing providers, but it has been said that some companies fail to provide appropriate support to customers. In some cases, all troubleshooting has to be accessed online, which can be a drawback for some.

This presents issues for businesses as they require constant and immediate access to data and documents. For smaller businesses with no in-house IT team, this could mean having to call out external forces to deal with troubleshooting issues.

For cloud computing to be beneficial, you must have a good internet connection, otherwise, you won’t be able to access the cloud.

System reliability is a concern for many businesses as it carries the potential to decrease employee productivity, revenue, and trust.

Although extremely rare, it is possible for cloud computing providers to experience technical issues. This can cause downtime in connection due to service maintenance or power loss, for example.

The challenge this presents to users can be critical as they become cut off from the infrastructure with no access to business data until the provider reinstates the system. Thankfully, data can easily be restored after a power outage due to the automatic backup function.

Data loss and data leakage are the most common cloud computing risks due to the vulnerability of a business and the importance of its internal data.

To keep your business and its information safe, cloud computing providers implement policies, controls, and services that protect your data from outside and inside threats.

At CHG-MERIDIAN we are dedicated to keeping your private data safe.

Weighing up the advantages and disadvantages of cloud computing, it seems more than likely that this innovative digital service will continue to rise in popularity as businesses look to the future of flexibility and digital transformation.

Here at CHG-MERIDIAN, we provide organisations with access to the latest technology through our Device as a Service and Enterprise Mobility Solutions. To find out more about how we can support your business, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.