Pros and Cons of Cloud Computing Technology
Cloud computing has become one of the hottest, most talked about topics in the information technology (IT) field. Microsoft, Apple, Google, IBM and dozens of other prolific IT companies are now offering cloud services to consumers. Even with this newfound popularity, however, some people are skeptical over the use of cloud technology. In this post, we’re going to cover the pros and cons of cloud computing technology, revealing whether or not it’s something consumers should use.
Cloud Computing Pros
There are several key advantages to using cloud computing technology, one of which is the hardware being hosted remotely. Rather than relying on your local machine to perform computing tasks, cloud technology uses remote hardware that’s maintained by the host. This ultimately results in less required maintenance along with faster processing and bandwidth speeds. Of course, this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the benefits of cloud computing technology.
Another benefit of using cloud computing technology is that it automatically serves as a backup. Let’s hope this never happens, but if your computer were to crash, become stolen or suffer from a hard drive failure, you can rest assured knowing that your files are backed up on the cloud. Depending your particular service, you can typically log into your cloud account to download the files back to your local device.
A third benefit of cloud computing that’s worth noting is the simple fact that you can access your files from any location. If you accidentally left your work laptop at home while you’re on an important business trip, just log into your cloud account using any internet-connected device to access your files. This alone is reason enough for some people to use cloud computing.
Cloud Computing Cons
Now that you know some of the advantages of using cloud computing technology, you’re probably wondering what types of disadvantages it has. Well, truthfully there aren’t a whole lot of disadvantages. Some users may be concerned about the available storage space offered through their cloud service, but even this is upgradable with most companies. Identify your storage needs beforehand and then choose a service with the appropriate options.
Another ‘possible’ disadvantage is the lack of freedom with administrative handling and process. Since the hardware is hosted remotely, users have limited control over certain functions. If you need certain tasks or maintenance performed, you may be required to contact the administrator for help.