Written by Pete Nystrom
More and more businesses are switching to the cloud rather than relying on physical data centers. Why is that? The cloud is a more efficient, lower-maintenance option for the fast-paced environment of the modern business world. It offers many benefits including: automatic software updates, lower costs, disaster recovery, and universal access.
On-Premises Data Centers vs Cloud Computing
There are two ways to store your data: on a private server or through the cloud.
Managing Your Own Datacenter
On-premise data centers have their own customizable hardware. Since the system is managed by its respective company, it is up to the company to manage, update, and maintain its own data, which can be expensive, especially when problems with the system arise. If companies do not back up their data, they risk losing it all, which is why some companies opt for the cloud. An advantage of on-premises servers is that they allow companies to have full control of their data and its visibility.
Cloud Computing
The cloud is a popular option because it is managed by a third-party provider, therefore users do not have to manage their own data or hire an IT team to maintain their servers. Since the cloud stores all your data, it is able to save your data even when your device crashes, a common problem for on-premise data centers.
The cloud allows users to always have access to the latest hardware. Also, due to the accessibility of the cloud, you can easily connect your data to the cloud provider’s SaaS tools.
The cloud is less expensive than on-premises data centers because the cloud handles all system updates and glitches that may occur, it is not necessary to pay an IT team to be on standby for hardware problems or if maintenance is required.
Cost Difference
On-Premises Data Centers
On-Premises data centers require a much larger investment because companies must maintain and update the data center themselves. They are required to pay for the hardware itself, programs to update their system, and IT professionals when issues arise or for regular maintenance and upkeep.
Cloud Computing
Cloud computing has more periodic expenses because companies only pay for what they use. Unlike on-premises data centers, when there is an issue with the server, the service provider has a specialized IT team that will address any problems. Cloud providers typically take care of any needed software updates, which eliminates any extra costs that on-premises data centers would involve.
Migration Process
The first step of the data migration process is to create a hybrid cloud connecting your private data center to the public cloud. Since the process of migrating data over the internet can be time-consuming, data is often transferred through physical data shipping.
“Cloud migrations can provide increased resiliency and agility as public sector organizations modernize their application portfolios. It also provides an opportunity to reduce hardware spending and take advantage of the economies of scale that cloud providers offer. Security is our number one priority as we plan new cloud migrations.”
-Jonathan Behnke | San Diego’s Department of Information Technology
This process saves all of your data locally and then is transferred to a backup service provider where it is then physically shipped. An example of a data transfer service is AWS Snowmobile. This service can move up to 100PB per shipping container. In comparison to transferring data over the internet, AWS Snowmobile can help you transfer a larger amount of data in a shorter amount of time.
After shipping the data, an AWS personnel will help you set up your data center so it can be read as a network storage area. Once you switch your network from Snowmobile to a local network, you can begin your data transfer.
The Big Issue: What about security?
According to Forbes, 66% of IT professionals say security is their greatest concern in adopting an enterprise cloud computing strategy. This is understandable, but the cloud is very secure.
Imagine your servers stop working. You just lost all of your valuable data and you have no way of accessing it. If your data is stored in the cloud, your information will always be safe even when your machine stops working.
The cloud has a very high level of security since it houses many companies’ important information. If you are still concerned about your data center’s safety, you could always use the private cloud, which holds your information in a private network.
Companies are switching to the cloud because it is a more efficient and accessible way to store and manage your data. If you are still unsure if the cloud is the right option for you, reach out to us at hello@seamgen.com and we can discuss your cloud computing strategy.
