Computers, Data security

The Disadvantages of Cloud Storage

thumbs-downIn a perfect world, we all would be on the cloud living our lives happily ever after. There's no denying the limitless potential possessed by this revolutionary technology which has not only changed the way we do business, but also how we live our lives.

But it is still somehow cloudy in the land of the cloud due to a myriad of disadvantages it carries. Here's a glance at some of them:

1. The Fear of Loss of Control:

  • You might be the boss of your company or your team but when you shift to a cloud, you're boss no more. Your business critical data rests solely in the hands of your cloud service provider if and when you decide to shift to a cloud hosting system.
  • Additionally, the restrictive nature of hiring a cloud service provider further prevents companies and enterprises from adopting the cloud in all its glory. An SLA or a contract often binds you with a single c loud service provider baring massive compensations if you choose to terminate it.
  • Naturally and understandably so, people find it very hard to get over this loss of control.

2. Does Everything Fit on the Cloud? No!

  • You might find satisfaction by believing that all your business data, infrastructure, hardware, etc. will seamlessly fit into the cloud, but that is nothing but half true. Imagine replacing every inch of your complex business and legacy IT hardware with the cloud services and applications and you'll get the picture.
  • Cloud's compatibility issues have been known to persist for long, and some companies just can't afford this extra hassle.

3. Data Security Issues:

  • Being on a cloud directly implies that your data is universally accessible. Common sense tells us that it is not only universally accessible to us, but to various hackers and cyber-thieves as well.
  • Moreover, public clouds by definition imply that client data can be shared among different users, which makes the prospect of security a tad more vulnerable.
  • Can you live with the constant fear of data loss?

4. Latency Issues:

  • Latency is the measure of the time taken by your PC to communicate with the cloud server.
  • Being on a cloud will force you to deal with times when you'll experience huge latency values and the corresponding downtime incurred might lead to significant losses in monetary terms.

5. Cyber Crime At Par:

  • In today's world, everyone who breathes possesses a specific virtual identity. This paradigm shift towards a virtual world has forged a counter-evil known as cyber-crime.
  • Clouds are built on the premise of virtualization and universal access and sometimes these fundamentals come back to haunt us in the form of cyber-attacks and data thefts.

Here's a look at some worst-case scenarios which might present themselves when you make the cloud plunge:

  • Account Hackings
  • Data breaches
  • D-O-S [Denial of Service]
  • Faulty APIs
  • Complete data loss
  • Data access by unpermitted third parties

6. Compliance Worries:

  • As a cloud user, you're completely oblivious as to where your data is residing on the web. It might be in the hands of your next-door nagging neighbor or in a server room across the Atlantic.
  • Absence of geographical boundaries makes compliance critical. It is solely dependent on the authenticity of your cloud service provider if he's willing to comply with the state, national and international compliance standards in addition to country-specific data privacy norms and regulations.

7. Additional roadblocks:

  • Lack of transparency-On a cloud, visibility is non-existent. You can't completely see through the processes and protocols employed by your service provider in order to run your business.
  • Orthodox culture
  • Lack of Awareness
  • Over-dependability on cloud service providers

Conclusion:

Is this the case of all good things coming to an end? Or is this prompting us to live with these cloud issues keeping the silver linings under the microscope in an honest attempt to have a successful future?

As they say, with great power comes great sacrifice. So, is the cloud worth it?

If you have any questions, please ask below!