Pros and Cons of Deploying your Software on Cloud

We have welcomed ourselves to the world of technology where nothing is unachievable and no one is unknown. But is that technology smart? Is this more than just technology? Can it surpass its own limitations and add a new dimension to itself? This question becomes even more critical when we talk about deploying our software on cloud. There has been a lot of interest in moving over to cloud based servers from traditional ones. This topic is quite trending and why not, when it has a lot going for it too. But there are two sides to every coin. Along with the numerous pros, there are some cons too but before going over to that topic, let us understand about cloud a bit more. A better understanding of this cloud will make you comprehend the topic better.

There are many different definitions which all come to the same conclusions but in simple terms, cloud is a platform where users can access software applications that run on shared computing services. They are available on demand and on a subscription basis. All of this is done via internet. Here, both, cloud-based and local components work in tandem. This is made possible in remote data centers which are solely dedicated to host various different applications on multiple platforms.

Some of the advantages of deploying your software on cloud are explained below –

·         The data sync between the users is unilateral. Different users sitting at different countries can access the data seamlessly. It increases flexibility and is perfect for businesses dealing with fluctuating bandwidth. Every company starts small and with time, expansion is the next step. It’s easy to scale up the capacity of cloud and the agility is quite handy.

·      The upfront costs are quite low. It cuts down on the cost of hardware. With cloud computing, you don’t need heavy and robust hardware to collect your data. It also has a direct impact on space. There is no need of huge space as there is no hardware problem. You can now accommodate unpredictable and unprecedented growth without a sweat.

·         It is quite simple to readily access real time data from any device that is connected to the internet. It not only saves cost and time but allows the organizations to finish the implantation process in an agile and systematic manner.

·         Disaster recovery is another significant point which is covered by cloud. Large businesses may have this point checked but it is the smaller ones which are most hit. They lack the needed cash and expertise to deal with disaster recovery but cloud provides backup and recovery solutions and they are the ones who are regularly using it.

·         The software updates are automatic. The servers are off your range and out of sight which means that you don’t have to deal with their ABC’s. It is the job of the supplier to roll out regular software updates so that you can deal with more important things.

·         You can work from any part of the world. All you need is a working internet connection and you will be marked as present at work! Most of the serious and big cloud services have encompassed almost every device. This increases your chance of collaboration and full visibility of what is happening around.

Just like the various pros there are some cons associated with these services. Some of them are explained below –

·         Downtime – when we talk about disadvantages downtime is probably the first mentioned one. As there is need of internet connection, service outages are a possibility and can happen at most unfortunate times. They can happen for any reason and no business, small or big, can afford to be interrupted.

·         Security and privacy is always a concern. When it comes to managing sensitive and critical data, cloud cannot be called cent percent dependable. How can anyone forget what happened at Code Space which led to the shutdown of the whole company. Another related concern is breaching of login credentials and credit card data.

·         You are always vulnerable to attacks. Not even the big names are spared from attacks as every component is online and you are exposed to vulnerabilities. It is a public service and anyone who has paid is granted an account. No checks and tests are done.

·         There are lower upfront costs as we have explained below but there are storage and maintenance costs involved. There are monthly, quarterly or yearly packages which needs to be bought at regular intervals. Pay-as-you-go services also add to the overall costs.

·         There may be customization issues. These services are easily configured but customizing them according to your own preference can be tricky. Also, integrating may be difficult due to regular rollouts of update schedules.

There are advantages as well as disadvantages to cloud services. There should be extensive research on what you exactly want and how they will be further planned out. Then only a decision should be made.