The cloud has evolved significantly since its inception over a decade ago; cloud tools and applications have grown in complexity and functionality, and the number of cloud service providers has grown. Additionally, cloud service providers have expanded the offerings they offer to accommodate the needs of businesses; among some of the common cloud-based services currently being made available are SaaS, IaaS, PaaS, and more recently, SECaaS.
There are a variety of ways businesses can use cloud services, including cloud computing, networking, and telecommunications, among others. As a result, businesses have increased their adoption of cloud-based services; this year, businesses are expected to spend an average of $3.5 million on cloud-based services, up from $1.62 million in 2016.
There are some challenges associated with cloud services as well as the benefits they provide to businesses. Various challenges limit the gains that some businesses derive from the adoption of cloud services and may also act as a deterrent to some businesses making the transition to the cloud.
Challenges Associated With Cloud-Based Services:
1. Cloud Security:
Cloud computing’s greatest strength is also one of its greatest weaknesses; most businesses prefer cloud services because of the ability to access them from anywhere. There are many ways for malicious actors to attempt to gain access to the cloud network because of the multiple entry points the cloud has. In contrast, traditional physical networks typically have only one point of entry, resulting in a smaller attack surface. Therefore, more resources and effort are devoted to securing the cloud and its access points. Security strategies for clouds include traffic isolation, which separates virtual machines into separate clusters, and access control lists, which define permissions based on predefined rules.
2. Data Management:
A traditional network infrastructure used relational databases to manage and manipulate data; this was a relatively simple task handled by database administrators. Document, columnar, and graph databases are examples of non-relational databases used in the cloud. Data management with these non-relational databases is more complex, especially when there are multiple cloud applications. Additionally, the administration of these databases requires administrators with very specific skillsets, which are often unavailable for hire.
3. Application Performance:
For optimal performance, different cloud applications and tools have varying bandwidth requirements. Due to inadequate bandwidth, there can be some latency during user interaction with the application, causing the applications to be poorly responsive or, in some instances, completely unresponsive, which can have a significant impact on normal business operations. For cloud applications to function optimally and business processes to run smoothly, cloud service providers should be able to provide bandwidth on a granular level.
4. Application Reconfiguration:
Cloud tools and applications should be designed to suit the needs of a wide range of businesses; they should be ready for use as soon as they are deployed, with minimal customization required. Some cloud applications, however, may require further configuration before they can be used by businesses. As a result, cloud-based applications can become more complex and may also require more maintenance.
BITS Secure IT Infrastructure LLC is well aware of the challenges you may face when moving your services to the cloud. However, we have a team of experts available to work closely with you so that you can derive maximum satisfaction from using our cloud services. We are ready to help you make the transition to the cloud. Get in touch with us today.
