If you’re not the most tech-savvy businessman, Cloud computing might seem somewhat complicated, or even unnecessary – why fix what isn’t broken? But, Cloud computing does have a number of advantages over in-house solutions, particularly when it comes to modern working conditions and the requirements of modern workers.

 

So, what are the sure advantages of using a Cloud solution over in-house servers? Cloud computing offers a number of advantages over in-house servers, including the convenience of working wherever, whenever, enhanced security, excellent scalability, reliability, and reduced costs. 

 

Read on to learn more about the advantages of using a Cloud solution over in-house servers.

What are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Cloud Computing Over In-House Computing?

Both Cloud computing and in-house computing have their pros and cons, each of which will have different implications for you and your business requirements. However, on the whole, Cloud computing has more advantages than disadvantages, and is perfectly set up for modern working environments. It is reliant on a stable internet connection, whether that be WiFi or a data connection, but is far more reliant than in-house servers as Cloud servers are hosted in multiple data centres. 

 

In-house computing, on the other hand, relies on a single internet connection, meaning that it has a single point of failure. If that connection goes down, there are no other servers to switch to. What’s more, in-house servers require staff to work on the premises, during opening hours. 

 

In-house infrastructure can also be incredibly expensive, and scaling up, or upgrading, can be equally expensive. This may be fine for larger businesses, but could be crippling to smaller businesses or start-ups.

 

Each individual business must weigh up the advantages and disadvantages of Cloud computing over in-house computing against their needs, budget, and future plans. We’ve laid out a few pros and cons of each solution below to help.

 

Cloud Computing

In-House Computing

Advantages

Disadvantages

Advantages

Disadvantages
Smaller investment required – well suited to smaller companies Requires an IT Partner with Cloud skills to configure correctly.  In-house servers have physical control over back-ups Requires considerable investment in hardware and infrastructure, and can be expensive to scale up or upgrade
Excellent scalability with on-demand solutions Security – whilst Cloud computing offers enhanced security, An Cloud IT Partner needs to configure the enhanced security features to protect users from accidentally leaking data. No third-party infrastructure underpinning  the system. You own the hardware. Physical space required to  host a server
Reliability –  Your data isn’t just stored on a server. It’s stored across multiple servers, sometimes in multiple locations Forever rental, you never own the computer hardware. Some people don’t like this arrangement.   May be more susceptible to data loss
Enhanced security measures – even the smallest companies have access to ever-evolving sophisticated security No downtime or recovery time guarantees
User experience – with regular updates and the ability to work wherever, whenever, Cloud systems are the answer to many modern-life problems Relies on a single internet connection, meaning that there is a single point of failure
100% reliant on the internet, however due to the use of multiple servers in different locations, it is less likely to fail

How Does Using the Cloud Differ From an In-House Solution?

The main difference between working in the Cloud vs working from an in-house solution is the freedom to work from wherever you can find a reliable internet connection, at whatever time of day you so desire. With an in-house solution, your team needs access to in-house infrastructure to be able to do their work, and can only do so during office hours. 

 

This may not seem like such a huge benefit, but in modern times, where there is so much uncertainty in our working conditions, and flexibility is more important to workers than ever, this is a small thing that could make a huge impact on the lives of your employees. 

 

Whilst flexibility is a key benefit for workers, scalability and reduced costs are two very important differences for management. Cloud computing offers excellent scalability, with solutions on demand. With just a few clicks, IT administrators can add new users, with customised profiles and access, and can introduce new applications or programmes in seconds.  In-house, these processes can take hours. 

 

What’s more, businesses can avoid the expense of purchasing equipment and software that becomes outdated almost as soon as it’s purchased. With the Cloud, costs are reduced, solutions are both easily scalable, and regular updates are available. 

Is the Cloud Safer Than In-House Computing?

You might think that, with your data being in the Cloud, it would be easier to hack. However, this isn’t necessarily the case, and many experts actually claim that your information is safer in the Cloud than stored on local devices. They state that it can be fairly easy for hackers to access data stored locally via the use of malware, ransomware, and phishing scams, but this is far less likely in Cloud computing.

Cloud servers tend to be far more secure than local servers and devices for a number of reasons:

  • Workers don’t have access to them, therefore there is less risk of internal data security breaches
  • Files stored in the Cloud are encrypted
  • Regular and consistent security updates
  • Built-in firewalls
  • Redundancy practices
  • Third party security testing

However, don’t just assume that Cloud computing is perfect, and that you can neglect internal security practices. You still need to ensure that your team is aware of security best practices, that data is encrypted, regular back-ups are performed, and that two-factor authentication is enabled on programs that host sensitive data, at least. 

Final Thoughts

As with most computing solutions, you should weigh up your requirements against the pros and cons of each solution to determine what is right for your company. In the case of Cloud solutions vs in-house solutions, however, the advantages of Cloud computing strongly outweigh its disadvantages and is the perfect solution for modern working requirements. 

 

However, the disadvantages of in-house solutions may outweigh its advantages. Maintaining and scaling in-house infrastructure is incredibly expensive, is susceptible to data security breaches, and it cannot conform to worker’s flexibility requirements the same way that Cloud computing can. 

 

777 Networks offer a seamless Cloud migration service, where we can migrate all of your current systems to an entirely Cloud-based computer system that is custom-made specifically for your business. Our Cloud migration services include:

 

 

Plus more, get in touch with us today to see what we can do for your business with our Cloud migration services.