Here we will discuss the Challenges faced Business to Cloud. The importance of cloud servers is vehemently increasing, as physical storage has become an archaic concept. The online storage of business information has several perquisites, and companies worldwide are extracting the benefits of this modern marvel. Cloud storage offers innumerable benefits such as scalability, reliability, backups, and so forth that both small businesses and mega-corporate houses can leverage to protect their precious data. However, like everything else in this world, cloud storage also comes with its fair share of challenges. However, before diving into the challenges that you face while moving your business to the cloud, let us first glance at some of the merits of cloud storage.
Advantages of Opting for Cloud Storage for Your Business
1. Scalability
Scalability – Before the invention of cloud storage, businesses had to maintain massive devices for data backup. Such a mechanism of on-site storage mandated companies to have efficient IT experts all the time for data backup, restore, and recovery. However, with the onset of cloud storage, businesses can backup data on an online server, thereby eradicating the need for massive hardware devices. Furthermore, a business can efficiently scale up its backup requirements with lesser cost through the cloud.
2. Easy Data Recovery
Easy Data Recovery – A recent study illustrates that 93 percent of the companies that lost their data for more than ten days had to file for bankruptcy within a year. Many reasons can result in data loss, such as disasters, theft, hacking, human error, etc. However, cloud storage solutions enable companies to access and recover their files, documents, etc., quickly and foster hassle-free retrieval of lost information.
3. Reliability
Reliability – More than 84 percent of businesses worldwide have now recourse to cloud computing. Moreover, the proportion is even higher for small businesses, wherein 93 percent opt for cloud storage. Thus, the cloud’s reliability in terms of safety and security is unmatched. The business data is stored on a cloud after encryption and can be decrypted only after entering the password.
4. Automatic Backups
Automatic Backups – Cloud has mitigated the manual labor that was an integral part of erstwhile data backup. By moving into cloud storage, businesses have to set the time and frequency of backup once, and the cloud servers will do the job automatically.
5. Elimination of Hardware
Elimination of Hardware – Statistics highlight that hardware failure results in 40 percent of the data loss in organizations. Thus, by moving away from physical storage and opting for the cloud, businesses can continue their operations and disruptions, with low investment and higher returns.
Now that we touched upon the good parts, let us dovetail into the various challenges you face after moving your business to the cloud.
Top Six Challenges Faced Business to Cloud
1. Data Security, Time, and Cost
The tripartite combo of time, data security, and cost is one of the biggest challenges businesses face while transitioning to the cloud. Moving data is a slow process that mandates a lot of bandwidth and main house. The hoard of security doubts often compels companies to retreat to their local servers. Likewise, when we talk about security, the concern among companies is rampant. A 2020 survey illustrates that 75 percent of the respondents are ‘very concerned’ or ‘extremely concerned about public cloud security. In addition, the recurring headlines of a data breach, and hacking further aggravate the issue. Therefore, while transitioning to the cloud, you must ask your vendor essential questions such as –
- How is data protected from corruption?
- The measures available to protect individual data
- The type of backup required in case of a mishap
2. Technical Nitty-gritty
The rapid evolution of the cloud domain means the ushering in of new technologies every day. Thus, businesses might be trap in the clutter of rapidly upgrading their resources and expertise to keep up with their peers. Unfortunately, such urgency can result in chaos and intimidation, preventing businesses from opting for cloud resources. Therefore, before moving to cloud storage, you should ensure that your business infrastructure is adept enough to handle the many technical nuances that come with cloud storage, such as access to multiple ISPs, necessary mobile coverage, and likewise.
3. The People Problem
One of the most significant challenges faced businesses to cloud include recruiting expert personnel and training the existing workforce to adapt to cloud and online storage. With the rapid advancements in cloud technology, businesses are compelled to hire new employees with relevant skill sets or invest in training the erstwhile workforce Challenges faced Business to Cloud. Unfortunately, both the trajectories are cumbersome and can hinder the smooth transition to the cloud and its effective utilization.
4. Lack of a Defined Strategy and Objective
Although cloud storage comes with many benefits such as performance, cost, agility, etc., its appropriation should be preceded by rigorous business strategy. In other words, your business objectives dictate your cloud storage. Unfortunately, many companies struggle with cloud migration because of a defined stratagem. Likewise, several organizations are also tangled in cloud storage hype and opt for too much cloud than their teams can manage.
5. Cost Management and Multi-cloud Management
A 2021 survey illustrates that 92 percent of businesses have a multi-cloud strategy in place. As such, organizations are combining multiple cloud servers in their business operations. Although the mechanism may seem feasible and even lucrative at first glance, it is technologically tough to maintain multiple clouds. Heaptrace Hence, companies may fall into an abyss of mammoth-sized investments without viable returns. Likewise, several companies also find it difficult to estimate costs while moving into the cloud. Primary cloud storage services have a monthly subscription or pay-per-use plans. However, it can get tricky to allocate the necessary funds and cave out an appropriate monthly budget. Moreover, firms who are considering moving all of their operations to the cloud should consider the long-term costs associated with fully leasing rather than purchasing and financing their equipment.
6. Vendor Lock-in
Lastly, vendor lock-in is one of the most significant issues you may face while moving your business to the cloud. Vendor lock-in can occur when you try to move your data from one cloud service to another. Likewise, you can come across application lock-in while trying to move a cloud-native application.
