IT Professionals

Trust Then Verify With Cloud Computing

Posted by on Feb 26, 2009 | One Comment

Over the past few years there has been tremendous noise about the benefits of cloud computing, how it will render the need for localized storage obsolete and so on. The fact of the matter is while there are clear benefits to cloud computing, clearly it is NOT perfect.

To be fair, local outages happen all the time due to malware, hardware problems or even missing appliances in some extreme cases. Most commonly however, the user simply ends up looking a pretty shade of blue while wondering if the document they were working on is now gone forever. So it is safe to say that going local is not exclusively the best solution just as relying on the cloud is not either. For my money, I rely on a well planned out combination of both.

I rely on my own email servers despite using some of the big name web based email services to “filter out the junk” along the way. I am also utilize a select number of local and web based backup services to make sure that if my computers suddenly go belly up, my critical data is backed up, encrypted and secure.

I would like to hope the moral of the above linked story is to trust your web based applications, but verify that you also maintained locally stored backups as well. While the issue with Gmail may not have been the end of the world this time, the next time some code goes wrong, things could be a lot worse.

  • Dave

    One issue related to cloud computing is the concern of IT Downsizing. As more and more services related to IT become outsourced and centralized (ie..Cloud Computing), many IT jobs will become obsolete. HP says that Cloud Computing will result in the cutting of “Dull” IT jobs. (http://news.zdnet.com/2100-3515_22-196553.htm). In the article, HP is suggesting that people who perform those “Dull” job duties will still be able to gain work performing more “exciting” jobs.

    So let’s think about this! Companies are convinced that Cloud computing will save by cutting those “dull” jobs, but yet, those same people working those “dull” jobs will be able to work in a more “exciting” role. Where’s the cost savings?

    Finally, when most businesses decide to enter the realm of “Cloud computing”, I’ll bet the the monthly costs for storage, software licenses and all other services related to “Cloud Computing” will quickly exceed the costs saved by cutting those “Dull” jobs. IMO, with today’s sky rocketing umemployment numbers, “Cloud Computing” is one reason for the increase in umemployment and the concept will help prolong the recession. Is the cost savings for most corporations a reality or a risk? When it comes to keeping people employed in today’s economy, I won’t be flying into the “Clouds” anytime soon!!