Cloud computing for business can offer substantial benefits, usually in term of increased productivity and lowered operational-related costs. However, mis-managing the cloud can be disastrous.
Based on TechJournal South’s article, titled Six Cloud Pitfalls to Avoid in 2011, here are 6 tips to help you successfully integrate cloud computing for your business:
1. Too much cloud will kill you – take your cloud computing adoption decision wisely
The cloud presents you with a double-edge sword. Too much or too quickly in cloud computing adoption can lead to unnecessary costs and losing control to your IT. Be sure to also calculate the ROI of cloud integration to help you decide.
2. Use cloud performance monitoring tools
Businesses integrating cloud computing to their business core need tools to measure the cloud’s impact in their businesses. How would you know whether you have the right mixture of cloud implementation? No monitoring, no business value.
3. Learn more about the cloud services you use
It’s only common sense – you need to know each and every cloud application running the show for your business. Keep track each and every of it, so that when the cloud grows in complexity, you won’t lose sight and be overwhelmed.
4. Choose the best cloud vendor possible to avoid lock-in problems
Do your due diligence – be sure you choose the best possible cloud vendor that can only do good for your business. Once you choose your vendor, you are virtually locked-in to the platform. Cloud vendor migration is a big issue; it’s really resource-intensive to move to another cloud vendor if you are not happy with your current cloud vendor.
5. Acknowledge the cloud performance issues
Whether you use SaaS, Paas or Iaas, you need to acknowledge the fact that, fundamentally, you are depending on the cloud services you choose. You need to expect performance issues to happen on a rare occasion, as cloud vendors can guarantee 99.99% uptime, but not 100%.
6. Tackle Cloud privacy and security issues
No matter how cloud service providers ensure you that there will be no privacy and security issues with their cloud solutions, there always are loopholes to those as long as you work on the web. You need to review your cloud services’ term of services – what is their guarantee regarding cloud privacy and security? What will they do when a security breach occurs?
Cloud computing integration for business will keep on growing well in 2011. Be sure to address the issues above to reap more benefits from your business cloud.
