5 Reasons not to Use Cloud Computing

There’s a major shift in our society toward Cloud Computing, which provides several distinct advantages. However, many of the proponents of this system tend to gloss over the possible disadvantages of the system. If you are thinking of switching over to a cloud-based system, you should consider these possible disadvantages to working with Cloud Computing Providers first and make sure you’re prepared to handle them.

1: Connection Issues

Cloud Computing requires the use of Managed IT Services, which means that you are at the mercy of your Managed IT Services provider when it comes to reliability. If the cloud server goes down, that shuts you down. To date, there is still a reliability problem with cloud servers, so even the best ones tend to go down from time to time. If you use this system, you should have a back-up plan in mind that will see you through these occasional periods of downtime.

2: Cloud Computing Can Have Security Issues

If you are using Managed IT Services, that means you are putting all of your information online. While the best providers will use the very latest in encryption and security technology, even the most modern systems fail from time to time. Small businesses can actually benefit from this system, since managed service providers generally have better security technology than a starting business can afford. However, larger businesses may be putting themselves at risk, especially if they have delicate personal or financial information that needs to be kept secure.

3: Long-Term Costs of Cloud Computing

One of the major benefits touted by Cloud Computing supporters is the fact that it doesn’t cost a lot to get started up. While getting an in-house server and network system can require a substantial investment, using this system only requires that you pay a recurring fee to the provider, which handles all the startup costs and other issues. However, those costs continue to add up over time, while in-house solutions decline in their cost in the long run. If you have the startup capital, you may be able to save a lot of money down the road by creating your own business network.

4: Cloud Computing Can Run on Proprietary Technology

Dealing with a cloud system means that you will be trusting your work to a company using proprietary software – that is, technology that they own. This is generally a minor inconvenience, but it can cause you to get locked into a certain price structure. Because cloud is based on proprietary technology, there are fewer alternatives out there than there would be with something that is open source. That means less freedom, and it might mean less long-term innovation as well.

5: Cloud Computing Increases Network Latency

If you use Cloud Computing, you also need to make sure that your network runs at a very fast speed and is capable of handling heavy server loads. Because everything you do will be handled online, that means that other activities, such as Internet use or video streaming, could cause slowdown. By comparison, using traditional software significantly cuts down on the load your network connection has to deal with.

Cloud Computing is not necessarily something bad, but it is something that has its risks and disadvantages. Be sure to give these items a long thinking over before committing to a cloud system, because this can be an important decision that can affect your long-term financial well being.

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