Cloud computing has become a huge buzzword over the last 10 years and many will argue that it is all too overused. To help sort through some of the clutter we are going to shine the light on some myths often mentioned in conversation about this topic:
1. Pay-As-You-Use model is the only hosting model out there that’s right for my organization
Some providers such as Amazon Web Services (AWS) or Rackspace offer hourly rates on public cloud infrastructure, but that may not be the best option for every organization. Large enterprises with a constant and on-going need for resources may find a private cloud service to be more efficient.
A good analogy would be renting vs. owning a car- car rentals are convenient for shorter time periods, only for when you need them. For longer time periods and frequent use it makes much more sense to own a car that will provide a steady, relatively low cost alternative.
2. Transition to the cloud is a complex and involved process
Many companies view the adoption to cloud computing as a convoluted process. There are many great reasons to make this transition, including more efficient utilization of computing resources and more flexibility. This evolution can be done without difficulty if you are partnered up with a knowledgeable team.
Your organization can enjoy the most benefits with a private cloud infrastructure. It will give you the ability to quickly scale up your IT infrastructure, automatically tap shared resources, and give your IT team complete control over available assets. The private cloud will also enable you to comply and adhere to security standards required both within the data center and the cloud. Provisioning applications used to take 3-6 months, but the cloud enables it to happen within hours, not days, not months.
3. The cloud is no playground for mission critical applications
Delivering test and dev. environments in the cloud is becoming commonplace in the IT industry, but launching mission critical applications has not been as widely adopted. Considering the numerous pressure applied on IT departments in regards to cutting costs and improved service levels, CIOs must take private cloud infrastructure into consideration. Guaranteed service levels such as Connectria’s 100% uptime, 100% network, and 100% security guarantees on managed cloud environments can help reduce some concerns when considering the switch.
4. Cloud computing is insecure
Using a cloud infrastructure can provide much needed relief in the form of lower hardware and software investment while organizations only pay for service. Many IT executives are weary of the security risks involved. Data center certifications, such as SSAE-16 Type II (formerly SAS 70) and the proper set up of the cloud environment can negate some of that risk. If you are considering a managed hosting provider, look for a company that can offer additional security services such as encryption of data in-transfer and at rest among many others if it is required for your business. Unfortunately no cloud model is impenetrable, but 24/7 monitoring, along with security software can mitigate the risk significantly.
So don’t get caught up in all the hype. As you see here, there are many tangible benefits in moving your organization to the cloud. But you don’t have to go about it alone, opt for a managed hosting provider who can offset some of the burden and make the transition more efficient and as seamless as possible.
Here at Connectria, we manage private and cloud environments for customers all over the world. For more information, give us a shout at blog@connectria.com or fill out a contact us form.
*This post is based on HP’s white paper, Five Myths of Cloud Computing, May 2012. Please contact us for the PDF version.