6 common misconceptions of the cloud - Part 2

In part one we addressed 3 common concerns with the cloud in terms of security, reliability and cost. Here we tackle 3 more misconceptions you might have about moving to cloud services in your organisation.

4. The cloud will cost me my job

The cloud is a tool. It will not replace a team, it will only change the way that they operate. Nor will it render any IT professional obsolete. It will only threaten to alter their role which in the digital age has to be expected. It only has the potential to cost you your job if it isn’t taken seriously and the concept seriously considered.

The cloud may put an end to several processes within a company but it also opens dozens more. The cloud still needs to be maintained and an emphasis on data protection must be stressed more than ever. The cloud adds new ways for both the workforce and the IT department to work whilst improving efficiency and productivity. The cloud widens the span of the company’s resources making core applications more accessible throughout the business and giving protection when employees go on holiday or leave the company. All this potential still has to be managed carefully.

2. But the cloud gives me less control

Aside from the monitoring tools discussed previously, the cloud actually increases control especially when it comes to data. The dreaded term “cloud” gives a lasting impression that information is up in the air for anyone to take but this isn’t true. Data is usually lost when an organisation loses it, when they fail to secure it and become careless with how they transport it or determine what end users are doing with it. With the cloud, this control returns. From data centre to end point, processes are both traceable and securable. Even further securing you data is possible, as ultimately the better your information is encrypted, the harder it will become to steal.

3. The cloud is a fad

It absolutely isn’t. If you use mobile banking or stream films online, you’re using the cloud. If you buy from an online retailer or use an email service, you’re using the cloud. The service is becoming one of the most important pillars of the modern internet due to the scope and opportunities available through it. It is a whole new way of working, a shift in technology afforded to us by significant bandwidth improvements. With every hurdle the cloud passes, it becomes stronger and more effective and with an expected growth of 42% in 2015, the cloud is here to stay.

So where now?

The key is to transition slowly. Moving immediately towards a new solution puts an overwhelming strain on a company and as mentioned before the cloud is a gateway to a new process and not the solution to all your IT problems as it’s sometimes advertised to be. Overall 65% of enterprises believed they needed help deploying the cloud as they were lacking in the necessary skills to change over smoothly. There is a lot of potential in the cloud for both good and bad.

Here at Intercity Technology, we are a leader in innovative cloud services such as Touch Telephony, Contact Centre, hosting and connectivity solutions.

If you would like more information on how cloud services can transform your business, please contact us.

Read part 1 of our blog series - 6 common misconceptions of the cloud

Sources of information:

Roundup Of Cloud Computing Forecasts And Market Estimates, 2015 - Forbes

Enterprise Cloud Adoption Survey 2014 - Everest Group