While a lot of people talk about new cloud computing trends which will be big in 2013 (you can read a good article about this at CIO.com ), today we are going to focus on something different. It's a fact that, no matter bigger popularity and growth of cloud computing, there are still some not so clear things about it.
That is why, we are presenting you just five of the great unsolved mysteries about cloud computing:
Is cloud really cheaper in the long run?
There is a lot of evidence that it's not cheaper. If you think of cloud in long term period, you'll get to conclusion that cloud is often more expensive than buying needed software and systems. Why it's like this? It's simple. Companies keep paying monthly subscription fees for something they never own.
Who owns the data and intellectual property in cloud?
For example, cloud providers have been cagey about the actual physical location of the data — an important legal concern in some jurisdictions. And issues such as data retention for legally required purposes, such as litigation e-discovery or preservation as evidence upon law enforcement request are a big question mark. And how long will cloud providers hold on to data after a contract ends? Is it a good or a bad thing if they do?
Is it sustainable for vendors to cannibalize their own business to get into cloud?
For the IT industry, the $64-billion conundrum. Moving clients from lucrative on-site licenses to monthly subscription fees has got to hurt — at least in the short run. Those vendors that can ease through the transition will see impressive rewards at the end of the tunnel, with clients locked into their particular services.
Is cloud computing a step backwards in the openness movement?
For more than a decade, enterprises and industry leaders have been hashing out standards, protocols and technologies that are more interchangeable and even hot-swappable. There’s no reason why an enterprise can’t swap out a back-end procurement system without touching the front-end interface that its employees use. Progress was being made for on-premises systems, but with cloud services, it may be an ugly scene when attempting to change cloud providers.
Is data actually safer in the cloud than on-premises?
There are a number of cloud proponents and even CIOs who say yes, it’s actually safer to retain data with a cloud vendor that is certified and has trained its staff in security protocols and best practices. On-site data center staff, as good as they are, may not necessarily have all the security skills they need. Is data any safer in the hands of your own corporate IT staff than it is with someone else’s IT staff?
So as you can see, there are some questions to which we still don't have a good enough answers from cloud computing industry. That's why, before serious thinking about moving your business into the cloud, you should think twice.
Source:forbes.com Image source