Cloud computing involves connecting to a remote server and using that as your remote hard drive. When you work on your computer and create a file, you can save it to your hard drive. But, if you are cloud computing then you save that file to a remote server. You send it over the Internet into a cloud space that is password protected so that only you can access it. This cloud server space may be bigger than your current hard drive which will mean that you get more room to save your files. You can even make a backup of everything on your PC if you like. Here are a few benefits and risks that are involved with cloud computing.
The benefits of cloud computing
Here are a few benefits of cloud computing. The list is not exhaustive, but gives a good gist of the advantages of cloud computing.
Uploading and downloading is quicker than with a website
The rate at which you can move information to and from a Cloud sever is often a lot quicker than in any other case. For example, it is quicker than sending files that are attached to an email.
It may be more secure than saving locally
One may or may not assume that one’s hard drive (local storage) is secure. There is a chance that it has already been hacked or has malware sending its data to another source. It may even have been tampered with by a member of staff.
You can access the information around the world
When you save something to your cloud server, you then have access to it around the world (most countries anyway). This means you do not need to worry about taking hard copies with you to other countries.
It is easier to share documents with other people
Lots of Cloud services have made it easier for people to share their documents online via their cloud service. This is often quicker than sending hard copies, or even sending via email.
Most cloud computing services has fail safe backup copies
Not all of them do, but some of them do. They save your files in mirrored locations so that if they have a big systems crash or are hacked, there is still a chance your files will be saved.
You may have more cloud space than hard drive space
This is true because you can increase the amount of Cloud space that you have.
The risks involved with Cloud computing
There are some risks involved with cloud computing, to the point where you are simply trusting your data to be handled by another person. Here are some risks you may be facing when Cloud computing.
If you cannot connect to the Internet then you are in trouble
To save files on the Cloud, you need to be able to connect to the Internet and send the files online. If you cannot get online then you cannot send or retrieve files. If you really need them, then you will have to find a way to connect before being able to continue.
It may be less secure than saving locally
On the contrary to this point on the benefits section above, it is possible for your hard drive to be more secure than the cloud computing server is.
If the server goes down then you cannot access your documents
Just like if your Internet goes off, if the cloud server goes down, then you cannot access your files. This means that any work on them must cease until the server comes back online again.
What happens if your cloud server is corrupted, infected or hacked?
Again, if this happens then your files are lost. And, even if they are not lost, they are compromised, as how can you be sure of who has looked at or altered one of your documents. For all you know, your files may have been published on Facebook by the hacker this morning.
Essentially you are entrusting your files to a stranger
The people who run the cloud computing service are just people. They are supposed to follow the laws regarding privacy and security, but there is no guarantee that they will. It may even just be one sneaky employee who decides to start looking for ways to make money, such as by selling your files to your competitors.
What proof do you have that your files are not being looked at by others?
This ties into the point made in the previous paragraph. Even if your files are not stolen, do you really want to risk the fact that a hacker or cloud computing member of staff is going to go and look at your files?
About the Author:
The article was written by Sonia Jackson from http://www.essay-land.com. She can ask all your questions about writing and editing.
The benefits of cloud computing
Here are a few benefits of cloud computing. The list is not exhaustive, but gives a good gist of the advantages of cloud computing.
Uploading and downloading is quicker than with a website
The rate at which you can move information to and from a Cloud sever is often a lot quicker than in any other case. For example, it is quicker than sending files that are attached to an email.
It may be more secure than saving locally
One may or may not assume that one’s hard drive (local storage) is secure. There is a chance that it has already been hacked or has malware sending its data to another source. It may even have been tampered with by a member of staff.
When you save something to your cloud server, you then have access to it around the world (most countries anyway). This means you do not need to worry about taking hard copies with you to other countries.
It is easier to share documents with other people
Lots of Cloud services have made it easier for people to share their documents online via their cloud service. This is often quicker than sending hard copies, or even sending via email.
Most cloud computing services has fail safe backup copies
Not all of them do, but some of them do. They save your files in mirrored locations so that if they have a big systems crash or are hacked, there is still a chance your files will be saved.
You may have more cloud space than hard drive space
This is true because you can increase the amount of Cloud space that you have.
The risks involved with Cloud computing
There are some risks involved with cloud computing, to the point where you are simply trusting your data to be handled by another person. Here are some risks you may be facing when Cloud computing.
If you cannot connect to the Internet then you are in trouble
To save files on the Cloud, you need to be able to connect to the Internet and send the files online. If you cannot get online then you cannot send or retrieve files. If you really need them, then you will have to find a way to connect before being able to continue.
It may be less secure than saving locally
On the contrary to this point on the benefits section above, it is possible for your hard drive to be more secure than the cloud computing server is.
If the server goes down then you cannot access your documents
Just like if your Internet goes off, if the cloud server goes down, then you cannot access your files. This means that any work on them must cease until the server comes back online again.
What happens if your cloud server is corrupted, infected or hacked?
Again, if this happens then your files are lost. And, even if they are not lost, they are compromised, as how can you be sure of who has looked at or altered one of your documents. For all you know, your files may have been published on Facebook by the hacker this morning.
Essentially you are entrusting your files to a stranger
The people who run the cloud computing service are just people. They are supposed to follow the laws regarding privacy and security, but there is no guarantee that they will. It may even just be one sneaky employee who decides to start looking for ways to make money, such as by selling your files to your competitors.
What proof do you have that your files are not being looked at by others?
This ties into the point made in the previous paragraph. Even if your files are not stolen, do you really want to risk the fact that a hacker or cloud computing member of staff is going to go and look at your files?
About the Author:
The article was written by Sonia Jackson from http://www.essay-land.com. She can ask all your questions about writing and editing.
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