Benefits of Cloud Adoption
Greater Cost Efficiency
Traditionally, businesses dealing with large volumes of data would have needed to invest in an on-site data center. These physical servers not only take up a lot of space but also require a lot of maintenance. In addition, ensuring that all the hardware and software needed is kept up to date can be costly as well as time-consuming. Using cloud computing is by far a more cost-effective solution.
Less Downtime
Cloud systems are designed in such a manner that downtime is kept to an absolute minimum. This is something that cannot be guaranteed with in-house hardware, so cloud adoption can decrease any loss of money or productivity due to downtime.
Enhanced Security
Security is always a concern as breaches can be costly, both in terms of money and reputation. There are numerous examples of data breaches that have adversely affected companies' revenue and brand positioning. Using a reputable cloud storage provider means that, at the very least, there will be baseline protections implemented. These can be enhanced with additional security measures depending on the sensitivity of the information being stored.
Less Risk of Data Loss
Data loss goes hand in hand with security as something that can seriously affect a business. Adopting a cloud-based solution means that your data is much easier to recover if anything goes wrong. On the other hand, adhering to the traditional method of storing all data locally can be catastrophic in the event of natural disasters, hardware deterioration, or even just negligence.
Great Scalability
Trying to keep up with hardware requirements in a growing business can be difficult. Depending on the demands of your business, you might have a need for more or less computer infrastructure. Cloud-based solutions make it far easier to scale up or even down as necessary. This type of scalability is a huge advantage in business.
Easier Collaboration
Collaboration is often essential for success, and this is something that is very easy to do in cloud environments. People from different departments can work on the same infrastructure and at the same time without getting in each other's way. Cloud roles and permissions can also be set to keep everything organized and free of confusion. It is even possible to build different cloud environments for different purposes to make collaboration easier.
Better For The Environment
Having a large on-site data center also requires a lot of electricity to run as everything has to be powered and cooled at all times. Adopting a cloud-based solution means that all this can be handled more efficiently off-site and help your business become greener.
Challenges of Cloud Adoption
Staff has To Be Educated
Depending on the size and type of your business, there might be a need to educate staff who are not familiar with using cloud services. Failure to do so can result in daily operational challenges.
Security Must Still Be Maintained
Cloud computing integrity is more secure than on-premise solutions if handled correctly, but it is important not to become complacent. Your business still needs an efficient cybersecurity program and employees who are knowledgeable in preventative measures if you want to minimize risks.
Migrating To The Cloud Can Be Daunting
While it is easy for smaller or newer companies to embrace cloud adoption, the process is more challenging for larger and established companies. It is also harder to shift existing applications to a cloud computing environment than starting from scratch. Therefore, a lot of care must be taken to ensure that the right teams are tasked with the migration process and that there is a thorough outline for them to work with.
Cost Optimization Is Challenging
The Flexera 2021 State of the Cloud Report indicates that a lot of organizations still struggle to forecast their cloud cost accurately (https://info.flexera.com/CM-REPORT-State-of-the-Cloud). While cloud adoption can be more cost-efficient, it is important to work with experts when it comes to forecasting and cost optimization.
Wasted Cloud Spend Still Happens
Due to unfamiliarity or lack of expertise, many businesses still end up wasting money after cloud adoption. Causes for this can be due to paying for resources that are larger in capacity than what is needed or by paying for idle resources. These can add up to a lot of money wasted in the long run that could have been put to better use in other areas of the business.
Conclusion
Recent events have shown that cloud adoption is no longer a luxury, but something businesses should embrace if they want to remain relevant and competitive. However, it is not something that should be rushed into without a proper understanding of how to implement it properly.
Cloud adoption can be a game-changer for any business, which is why it is continuing to gain traction worldwide. In addition, the rapidly evolving business landscape has also seen hybrid work taking center stage. This has further accelerated cloud adoption, so any businesses that still dismiss it as merely a buzzword risk getting left behind.
