The latest rage on the internet is Cloud Computing. You hear a lot about it and the debate that is going on is, is cloud computing safe? The “cloud” just refers to the internet and computing defines software and services that run through the internet. Email services like Hotmail and Gmail are examples of cloud services or computing. You get your email through these online email hosters (is that a word?) thus your email is internet serviced based or on the cloud.
However, what makes cloud computing fabulous is accessibility to the data. Amazon’s internet web services or cloud computing provides 5 gigs of free storage. This enables you to put your data on these 5 gigs. Things like songs, videos, documents, photos etc.
You have unlimited access to this data. Now, if your home computer dies, gets thrown in the ocean, is stolen or is run over by truck, whatever you have on the cloud or internet web service is safe and still accessible from anywhere in the world at anytime. It is essentially providing you with an online backup hard drive. This is why you can keep emails that you wish to save indefinitely.
If you desire more than 5 gigs storage you can upgrade your account at Amazon and get 20 GB of storage. Once your storage is uploaded to your internet service cloud, it is how you or others will access the data that is unique. You can access it by computer, phone or pad and you can download to an MP3.
This ability to store and access data is the debate. Here are the pros and cons of this debate.
Cloud Computing cons:
Servers: When a server goes down in the cloud, it affects millions of people at the same time. You can’t switch to a new server easily and thus cloud clients cannot access their data for however long the server is down.
Cloud service is meant to be a convenience but it is only convenient as long as the cloud servers are running and there are no network outages.
Security: While cloud can run an entire business online it will continue to battle the growing presence of hackers that wish to steal data. This could expose you to risks that you may not know about.
You must trust the cloud provider’s security systems to protect your vital information and as long as companies like Sony and Citi can get hacked, then this is a consideration that must be taken seriously. With Sony, clients did not have access to their data for over a month and this hurt Sony’s reputation badly.
Apps costs: If you just use the cloud as storage than this is fine, however, if you are using business services and running your whole business on cloud applications or apps you will be paying for the app and its upgrades overtime and this could become costly.
Cloud Computing pros:
Redundant backup and accessibility: The user will be able to download anything from the cloud into any computer or device. This provides unprecedented access to data when you need it from anyplace you need it. That spreadsheet stuck on your office computer, which you unexpectedly now need for the business conference you are currently attending, in another country, can be downloaded to your Phone, Pad or Notebook in minutes. This is what makes cloud such an incredible tool.
Exchanging data accessibility: On the cloud you can exchange data quickly and easily. Project managers can be in different parts of the country or world and keep up with developments securely by placing them on a cloud server like Dropbox. Data can be updated in seconds and out to the whole team in minutes keeping everyone on a project in the loop and up-to-date. You can keep accessibility of the stored data open to everyone or just to certain people on a per project basis.
I personally am still on the conservative side of using cloud. Watching Sony’s clients not be able to access data for over a month was not okay with me. I am careful how I use the cloud and do not put anything on there that is top security. I don’t put intellectual property on it as I do not know who owns the information once I put it on the cloud. However, I think the future of cloud computing will continue to grow as innovation and security improvements continue to ensure the success of cloud computing.
May you direct your dreams.
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[...] personally am still on the conservative side of using Cloud. Watching Sony’s clients not be able to access data for over a month was not okay with me. I [...]