Is your business considering moving its virtualized data center to the cloud? If so, you may be wondering if this is a good choice. There are many myths about cloud computing out there. While it is true that cloud computing may be better for the vendor than it is for the client, there are many benefits for your business, too. We’ve debunked some of the most popular myths that are circulating about the cloud in order to help you decide if the cloud is a good fit for your business.
1. It’s Only for New Tech Companies
Sure, it’s easier to start with your business on the cloud than it is to migrate over after your company has already been established. In fact, cloud computing is seen as a necessity for new tech startups. However, that doesn’t mean that it isn’t the right fit for your company as well. Many of the reasons startups tend to use the cloud are the same reasons you should too. On the cloud, all of your data is contained in one place. Because it is so centralized and because you have instant online access to information, you will save time.
2. It’s Less Secure
It’s easy to feel this way about the cloud when you aren’t fully informed. However, the data security offered by cloud vendors is likely to be more reliable than what your business offers in-house. The largest risk for security is employees accessing the cloud through free public networks like those found in hotels or airports. This can be mitigated by connecting directly to the cloud application or by using a VPN. Best of all, your data being kept off-site means that it is always kept backed up in case of a disaster.
3. It’s Always Cheaper
Another common misconception about migrating your virtualized data center to the cloud is that it is guaranteed to cost you less. While your cloud vendor will do their best to convince you that this is the case, cloud computing can actually be more expensive when considering the long-term costs. However, there are ways to make it cheaper. Subscribing annually versus monthly can shave down costs. Additionally, if you look at your internal costs before moving to the cloud, you will see that you spend more money on IT and the cost of running the servers. Cloud servers also automatically update, so you don’t have to spend time and money upgrading your system. When used correctly, cloud computing can cost a businesses less in the long-term.
4. It’s an Easy Change
So you thought you could just upload all of the data from your data center and your cloud would be ready to go? It’s a bit more complicated than that. When migrating to the cloud you will have to worry about things like bandwidth usage, network congestion, and continuous communication. Converting to the private cloud means delivering more services, so think about upgrading your bandwidth to save you some future headaches. Additionally, shifting to the cloud is a big change for any business. Consider how your company has dealt with previous IT projects – are they ready for the cloud?
There are both pros and cons of migrating to the cloud. Make sure you research your options and challenge your vendor before deciding what is best for your business!