Cloud Computing Mistakes That Will Cost You $1m Over The Next 10 Years

Cloud computing is an industry which has grown by a huge margin over the last couple of years, and in 2014, it was estimated to be a $75 billion industry. This means that the numbers are growing because more and more individuals and organizations are joining the cloud band wagon. Company executives have come to the realization that cloud computing cannot be ignored, which perhaps explains the growing numbers. Furthermore, efforts to demystify cloud computing have had great success over time, and it is thus much easier to convince an organization to adopt cloud than it was 5 years ago.

It is true that cloud computing is a lucrative venture. However, you need to be very cautious because not everyone is benefiting from cloud computing as much as they earlier anticipated. As a matter of fact, there are companies which have incurred losses as a result of approaching cloud computing the wrong way. Like any other business investment, there are gains and risks, and you have to weigh your options and strike a balance before you make a decision. You may either decide not to invest because you fear the probable risks that come with the investment, or you may also decide to invest but come up with strategies to reduce the risks and ensure that you gain maximum returns from your investment. The second option is more lucrative. Every investment comes with its own risks- you just have to figure out a way of dealing with the risks. Shying away from investments because of risks, means you may never make any substantial progress. Cloud computing is the same; if you want to reduce risks and any losses that may come with investing in the technology, you have to lay out proper strategies. Cloud computing is a lucrative venture, but planning well and laying a strong foundation will yield benefit from the technology in the coming years.

Common Costly Cloud Computing Mistakes

Not Knowing your Specific Needs

Before you enroll cloud computing in the organization, the first step should be to assemble a team of experts who will help you to determine the perfect cloud for your organization. Every organization has its own specific needs, which might be totally different from other organizations. For example some organizations might succeed with a public cloud others based on type of business a Hybrid cloud would be most suitable. If you have not identified your needs first, you may rush and get a cloud service that may do you more harm than good. Take a scenario where you share out confidential company information on a public cloud, and an employee carelessly shares their login details with an outsider. The organization’s cloud will be compromised, and such information may end up with the wrong hands. However, if the organization was using a hybrid cloud, the confidential info would be on the private cloud, which in most companies is normally restricted to top company management. The confidential info will therefore be intact, and damage control on the compromised public cloud will be carried out without too much worry.

Jumping into Cloud Computing too Fast

This may well be a continuation of the first mistake, because they are almost related. When you rush into cloud computing, you are getting into an unknown zone, and this could present a lot of trouble. Part of this includes jumping onto cloud service providers without first understanding:

• The cloud providers rules and regulations
• The limitations of their cloud computing services
• Their system capacity
• The number and variety of applications available on their cloud.

Failure to Lay Fundamental Structures Needed to Run the Cloud

Even if you enrolling a public cloud into the organization, you will still need a team of technicians who will monitor how the cloud is working, on behalf of the organization. Thus, anytime there are issues such as downtime, slow response or attempted security threats, they will be the first people to notify the cloud service providers.

Cloud computing is internet-based, which means that you will need a stable and reliable internet connection at all times. Thus if your current internet has connectivity and speed issues, you will need to work on it first, before you even enroll cloud computing into the organization. A fully private cloud will require investment in a data facility centre, personnel and also the hardware requirements needed to operate the facility.

Failing to Prepare Your Employees

You will need to prepare your employees before you enroll cloud computing in the company. This will ensure that there is less resistance towards the technology. Part of preparing the employees also involves training them on how to use the technology in their daily operations. When the employees are adequately prepared, they are more comfortable with the technology right from the onset and this prevents delays in service delivery.

Unpreparedness for the Ever Changing Cloud Computing Environment

The cloud computing environment is dynamic, and it changes from time-to-time. You need to be prepared to embrace new system upgrades, and encourage your employees to use the latest applications provided on the cloud service. New system upgrades introduce efficiency into the organization, which translates to better service delivery. Thus, if you are rigid to change, you may never fully benefit from what cloud computing has to offer, and your net loss over the next 10 years may easily cost you over $1 million.

Being Unprepared for System Failure Eventualities

If you are using cloud computing, whether you are using a private cloud or you are subscribed to a public cloud, it is always important to have disaster recovery strategies. Such strategies will help you in case of data loss, security breaches and system failure. In case any of these things happens, you will be able to recover swiftly and move on without incurring huge losses or wasting a lot of time.

If you want your organization to excel through cloud computing, you should avoid the mistakes mentioned above at all costs.