By Angelica Harvey • June 14, 2017

3 Common Myths About The Cloud

Cloud computing has revolutionized the way companies perceive IT and is continuing to evolve rapidly. Despite widespread adoption, there are still some misplaced beliefs that are preventing companies from switching to the cloud, which impedes their innovation potential. We hope to debunk these myths to give you better understanding of the cloud and how your company can take advantage of the help it can provide.

1. Data is not as secure in the cloud

Security is always one of the biggest concerns when it comes to cloud computing. In reality, security risks in the cloud are the same as those faced by traditional on-premise solutions. The main difference here is that in a cloud-based model, security is a shared responsibility between you and your cloud provider.

A good cloud provider like Azure or AWS has security measures throughout the attack line that protects your data. Cloud providers use special tools that you may not have access to with on-premise security, like dedicated firewalls, advanced encryption, and intrusion-detection systems. Sharing the responsibility for the security of your data with a cloud provider can allow your company to focus more effort on business-oriented tasks.

2. The cloud is always cheaper and more efficient

Although the cloud and its benefits are suitable for every business size, the cloud may not be suitable for every business task. It all depends on your particular needs.

Obtaining the overall best cloud solution for your business may require a combination of private, public, and hybrid capabilities. Here is where it becomes critical to have a cloud expert to guide you.

When it comes to price, the cloud might not always be the cheaper option, but it's certainly the most cost-efficient. Cloud computing works best for variable demands and workloads since you only pay for the IT resources you need at a given point in time. You also reduce your capital expenditures since you don’t need to purchase expensive hardware. You can check out this post if you'd like to learn more about the benefits of cloud computing.

3. Moving to the cloud is complicated and risky

Moving to the cloud can seem like a daunting task, but with a comprehensive strategy, your IT transformation process will be seamless. Start by identifying the business goals and mapping all the potential benefits of the cloud to them. This will ensure that you utilize as many services as you can that the cloud has to offer.

It's also a good idea to have a cloud partner that can help you build a plan that mitigates risks. No migration process is perfect, and you may encounter some issues at first. However, working with an expert can help you easily overcome these issues and make sure your data is securely transferred.

We hope that debunking these myths helps you make an informed decision on whether or not your company should switch to the cloud.

For more information on cloud myths, download the Microsoft "The Top 10 Cloud Myths” report here