The cloud can now be seen at the forefront of both business computing and the implementation of applications and software. Also, cloud computing services are swiftly replacing the traditional on-premise systems as a solution that is scalable, cost-effective, and reliable. But, certain businesses which have their established data centers and on-premise IT infrastructure are still trusting the traditional systems for managerial and security purposes.
Every business, be it small or big, requires safe storage space for easy access to data and applications and for which the cost of running is minimum. If you have thoughts of migrating your workload from the traditional on-premise IT infrastructure to cloud-based environment, continue reading to know what is the difference between these two systems and why it will be beneficial to make such a move.
Difference between cloud computing and traditional IT infrastructure
Cloud computing platforms are a complete virtual hosting solution. It can be said that it is a virtual environment that works in real-time and the hosting is done between multiple servers simultaneously. So, instead of putting your hard-earned money into buying the in-house physical servers, you can easily go for renting out the data storage space from a trusted cloud computing service provider and this will turn out to be more cost-effective as it will be on the pay-per-use basis. Let’s have a look at how the traditional style of hosting is different from modern-day cloud hosting:
Reliable and Productive
Every server on the cloud has a uniform distribution of the applications and information hosted on it. All these servers are connected accordingly to perform as one. Thus, in case of one server failure, the data is not lost and there is close to no downtime. A cloud computing platform has more server resources and storage space to offer to you which is inclusive of a stable power of computing. Hence, all your applications and software tend to perform better and faster.
On the other hand, the traditional on-premise IT systems do not offer such reliability and a continuous level of server performance. The capacity of such systems is limited and they are highly prone to downtime which in turn affects the overall productivity of a workplace.
Scalability and Flexibility
If we compare the traditional IT systems with cloud computing systems the kind of scalability and flexibility that the cloud has to offer is far better than the on-premise IT system. A cloud has a virtual space that has in it, multiple server resources and unlimited data storage space which can be accessed on-demand. Cloud platforms are capable of being scaled up or scaled down as per the traffic on your website and you also have complete control to run any software when required. This offers better flexibility for your business growth.
When it comes to the traditional IT systems only the limited resources available to you can be accessed. In case your data storage space becomes full, the only probable solution is to go for renting or purchasing another server. All in all, the traditional IT infrastructure will not be cost-effective especially if your business is in the running of high growth.
Automated Management
There lies a major difference in the management of traditional IT infrastructure and cloud computing platforms. Found on the cloud is managed by the cloud computing service provider who is responsible for making sure that all the security measures are intact and the required hardware is in place along with its smooth running. Whereas with traditional IT infrastructure the administration in-house is more on the heavier side which can be time taking and costly for the business. You would require a professionally trained IT person to consistently monitor and maintain these servers and this would include regulating the configuration problems, upgrades, protection against threats, and installation of applications and software.
Cost of Running
Cloud computing services are way more cost-effective in comparison to the traditional on-premise IT infrastructure because of the kind of payment method adopted for availing the cloud computing services. With cloud computing, be it private or public cloud computing, you only pay for the services that you have utilized which is similar to the payment for utilities such as water and electricity. In addition, the decrease in downtime results in better performance at the workplace which leads to higher profits in the longer run.
In the case of traditional IT systems, there is no solution except for purchasing server spaces and additional equipment to enhance business growth. And, if this is slowed down you will be required to pay for certain resources which you would probably not need. One should also know that physical servers tend to get reduced in value as they age which means that the ROI on traditional IT infrastructure will be quite less.
Safety and Security
Because cloud computing services yeah is it type of software delivery and data storage that is done externally, it could add time to raise security concerns, unlike the local hosting. Every user who has server access and a good Internet connection can use or view the data stored on the cloud. But, if your cloud computing service provider is a trusted one and there is transparency in the provided hosting, you will have all the security measures intact and there would be no difficulty in migrating your workloads to the cloud.
If you have a traditional IT infrastructure, it is you who’s responsible for the security of data and also it becomes easy because only the authorized people can access the data and applications stored in the system. Because the data centers are connected physically, the in-house IT team IS responsible for managing them but it is highly time-consuming and ensuring that the right safety measures are implemented becomes crucial.
In a nutshell
Selecting the right IT model for your organization or business is an important decision. Hence, analyze your resources and the pace at which your business is growing and then decide whether your business requires a cloud computing platform or the traditional IT infrastructure.
