Navigating the Cloud Services: Unveiling the Downsides for Businesses

• Share on
• 
• 
• 

Salutations to all IT aficionados and business mavens! In today’s blog, we’re heading up, up, and away into the clouds! Yes, we’re looking at the reality of cloud solutions. Specifically, how to navigate the cloud services. However, before we get started on our latest IT deep dive and go in-depth on this fascinating topic, let’s start with a short and exciting history lesson to bring us up to speed.

Introduction

Now, as a seasoned IT engineer with more than a quarter of a century’s experience, I’ve witnessed the exponential growth and transformative power of computer technology first-hand. From the thrilling early days of connecting individual computers to one another and sharing resources to the advent of local network-enabled gaming and professional applications. Each advancement has offered a promise of heightened productivity and efficiency.

The transition from independent workstations to a cohesive network eliminated numerous bottlenecks and increased overall throughput. The provision of computing resources became a question of software and hardware availability rather than individual machine limitations. The arrival of servers, taking centre stage in network architecture, marked another significant evolution. We witnessed a shift from powerful and versatile setups like Novell and Windows NT, to the embrace of the Linux world, spurred primarily by the prohibitive costs of server licenses.

As the timeline progressed, servers became more accessible and flexible, with Microsoft’s Small Business Server (SBS) emerging as one of the most successful solutions. I can still recall the shock wave that went through the industry when Microsoft decided to discontinue SBS. This software, which had become a mainstay in businesses of all sizes, was abruptly taken off the table. The decision left many businesses disgruntled, but it also steered smaller organisations towards the rising phenomenon of cloud computing.

Present Times- beginning of Cloud Services

Fast forward to the present, and cloud solutions such as Google Cloud, Office 365, Box, Dropbox, and Amazon Cloud, to name a few, are touted as the go-to options. Glancing through any marketing material, one is likely to be regaled with tales of the cloud’s prowess – its scalability, disaster recovery capabilities, remote work support, and more. But one might wonder, is the cloud truly the revolutionary invention it is hyped up to be? Or is it simply the next ‘Emperor’s New Clothes’ of the IT world?

Join me on this exploratory journey as we delve into this topic, discussing the potential pitfalls and challenges that businesses may face when migrating to the cloud.

1. Cloud Services- Reliance on Internet Connectivity:

A notable challenge associated with the embrace of cloud solutions is the increased dependency on internet connectivity. In circumstances where the internet is unstable or unavailable, businesses may encounter significant disruptions in accessing vital data or leveraging cloud-based tools. This issue can be particularly pronounced for entities operating in remote regions or locations with an underdeveloped internet infrastructure.

In the current tech landscape, the likelihood of a cloud service going down due to internet issues is relatively low. More often than not, it is the end-user having internet connection troubles. However, it’s worth contrasting this scenario with the pre-cloud era when organisations could continue functioning during an internet outage due to locally housed servers.

Today, with servers residing in data centres operated by major cloud service providers, loss of internet connectivity can pose a genuine issue. It may not be a catastrophic problem, especially with redundancies and backup systems in place, but it’s a crucial consideration when planning a move to the cloud. This underscores the importance of reliable internet access in the era of cloud computing and necessitates contingency planning to ensure business continuity.

2. Cloud Services- Security and Privacy Challenges:

While the adoption of cloud technology introduces a myriad of benefits, it also presents unique vulnerabilities pertaining to data security and privacy. In the era of cloud solutions, sensitive data is often stored on remote servers managed by a third party, which can potentially raise issues about unauthorised access, data breaches, or even compliance with data protection laws. Though cloud service providers take significant steps to ensure robust security, businesses have the responsibility to carefully evaluate these risks.

A key point to remember is that entrusting your data to a cloud provider means placing a great deal of faith in their security protocols. While it’s true that cloud advocates can point to the extensive security investments made by major players in the industry, that doesn’t negate the recurring instances of data exposure in the cloud due to reasons ranging from misconfigured containers to poor password practices.

The issue of weak passwords, for example, is not a unique problem of the cloud. However, the visibility and ease of access to cloud-based servers may amplify this risk. In the pre-cloud era, locating a specific ‘on-site’ server amongst the billions of IP addresses on the internet was akin to finding a needle in a haystack, offering an additional layer of security. However, with cloud providers, locating the login portal is as simple as typing “https://workspace.google.com” or “https://www.office.com” into a web browser. From there, the potential attacker just needs a valid username and password to gain access (though, thankfully, modern security practices often require a Multifactor Authentication token for additional security).

It’s important to remember that while cloud providers often offer top-notch security, it doesn’t absolve businesses from their responsibility to ensure their cloud environments are properly configured and secured. Implementing strong passwords, two-factor authentication, and other best practices remain essential, regardless of whether your data resides in the cloud or ‘on-site’. You can read more advice on security in several of my previous blogs such as Cyber Security Importance.

3. Financial Implications of Cloud Solutions:

While cloud solutions are widely acclaimed for their scalability and cost-effectiveness, it’s crucial for businesses to consider the associated costs carefully. Cloud services typically adopt a subscription-based pricing model, where costs can escalate in line with increased storage and computing demands. For organisations that rely heavily on these services, meticulous management and resource optimisation become critical to avoid unexpected expenditure spikes.

Moreover, transitioning from traditional systems to cloud-based solutions often involves upfront costs and continuing maintenance expenses. Contrary to popular belief, cloud services might not always be the most cost-effective choice. They certainly alleviate the manual labour associated with maintaining local servers, but this convenience comes with a price tag.

Opting for in-house solutions can, in certain scenarios, be more financially beneficial for a company. Why so? Because it offers the flexibility to decide the upgrade schedule and the duration a solution is used before an upgrade is necessary. With a cloud solution, you essentially pay for a standard platform irrespective of whether you utilise its full capabilities or not. In simpler terms, you could be paying for more computing power than you need, which isn’t necessarily the most economical option. In contrast, an in-house solution provides the option to customise and scale according to your specific needs, potentially saving costs in the long run.

4. Vendor Lock-In:

Adopting a cloud solution may lead to vendor lock-in, where businesses become heavily dependent on a specific cloud service provider. Migrating away from one provider to another can be a complex and resource-intensive process, potentially resulting in data transfer issues, compatibility challenges, and disruption to operations. Vendor lock-in can limit flexibility and hinder businesses from exploring alternative solutions or negotiating favourable terms, potentially affecting long-term strategic decisions. As you can see, this is one of the most dangerous positions to find yourself in. Once complex solutions are migrated to the Cloud, moving it to another solution is not cheap or easy. In some situations, it could be even impossible. The main problem here is that the cloud provider can steadily increase their prices without much fear of customers abandoning their solutions due to this issue. As an example, I know of a business which was using a cloud solution that increased its fees every year by a range of 30% to 50%. 

5. Potential Downtime and Service Disruptions in Cloud Serivces:

Even with high availability guarantees, cloud services can experience downtime or disruptions. Outages can be caused by various factors, such as hardware failures, software bugs, or even natural disasters. Businesses relying on cloud solutions must consider the potential impact of such incidents on their operations and implement contingency plans to mitigate any adverse effects. Adequate backup and disaster recovery strategies are essential to ensure minimal disruption and data loss during service interruptions. In such a situation, businesses are forced to wait as there is not much anyone can do. The good news is that outages usually affect multiple companies and users which automatically escalates the issue and helps push for a quick solution. Sometimes customers only have to wait a little while before all services are restored. 

6. Unanticipated Interruptions:

Cloud technologies, while transformative, can sometimes present unforeseen challenges linked to global socio-political dynamics. A recent situation that underscored this risk was the conflict in Ukraine. Amidst the tension, many Western businesses made the strategic decision to withdraw their operations from Russia. This geopolitical move had a domino effect on numerous Russian enterprises that had heavily invested in cloud solutions. They found themselves faced with an abrupt potential loss of access to their cloud-stored resources. This sudden cut-off, without prior notice, affected not only their access to essential files but also the usability of tools driven by cloud servers. As a result, these businesses were presented with a stark reminder of how political decisions can significantly impact cloud-dependent operations.

Conclusion 

While cloud solutions offer remarkable advantages, it is crucial for businesses to be aware of the downsides and proactively address them. By understanding the challenges surrounding internet connectivity, data security, costs, vendor lock-in, and potential service disruptions, organisations can make informed decisions, implement appropriate risk management strategies, and leverage the cloud’s benefits effectively. Remember, a balanced approach and thorough evaluation are key to navigating the cloud landscape and maximizing its potential for your business.

As I said at the top, I’ve spent a quarter of a century working in IT, acquiring the knowledge and expertise to help YOU with your tech problems and make your digital life easier so you can do what you do best. As well as sharing what I have learned for free through this weekly blog, I have assembled a friendly team of experts who specialise in IT support for businesses.

If you need a helping hand and the benefit of our expertise, simply send us a message at [email protected] or call us on 0800 389 6798. Our IT support services for businesses include everything from cyber security, cloud computing, and IT compliance to IT infrastructure support, cyber essentials, and more. We love working with our IT support clients and using our IT knowledge and experience to make their lives easier. We take care of the tech stuff so you can focus on what you do best. You can contact us here: Contact us, or read more about our Cloud Services.