Cloud Vs. On-Premises: 6 Benefits Of Keeping Data Private
We can think of at least six reasons why you would want to store your data in a privately controlled data center rather than use a public cloud service. Let’s gain an understanding of the on-premises vs. cloud debate, and see why some tech leaders advocate a hybrid model where both coexist.
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Major technology vendors, including Microsoft and Oracle, have stepped up their efforts in recent weeks to emphasize the benefits of storing data and running applications, platforms, and infrastructure in the cloud -- whether public or private. But many IT leaders that I speak with in my work as a consultant remain caught in the debate over maintaining on-premises data centers versus moving to the cloud.
Even as Oracle CEO Larry Ellison came out as one of the cloud's biggest cheerleaders during Oracle OpenWorld last month, Melissa English, president of the Oracle Applications User Group, noted that most users are going with a hybrid approach and keeping some functions on-premises.
There are at least six reasons we can think of where it would indeed be appropriate to avoid considering the use of a public cloud service, and instead, only store certain data in privately controlled data centers. These range from concerns about regulatory requirements, to issues with connectivity and speed -- all of which are often outside the control of your organization and your cloud provider. Much depends on the type of data you need to store, and the mindset your organization has regarding cloud computing in general.
[Confused about cloud computing price structures? Read Cloud Computing: 8 Hidden Costs.]
In my experience as a consultant and IT professional, I've seen IT departments that still view the use of cloud providers as an inferior solution compared to what can be offered in-house. In certain situations, they're right.
Here, we hope to give you a better understanding of the on-premises versus cloud debate, and some perspective on why tech leaders such as Larry Ellison believe that IT, for the foreseeable future, will likely follow a hybrid model where on-premises and cloud computing will coexist.
Once you've reviewed this debate, we'd love to hear your story about how your organization made the decision to maintain an application or database on-premises -- as opposed to in the cloud. Let us know your thought process in the comments section below, and whether or not you see your organization heading to the cloud in the near future.
Depending on your industry sector, vertical market, or geographical location, you may have to abide by an array of government regulations determining how you use and store sensitive data. The healthcare and financial services industries are common examples of verticals in which IT has to take extra steps to prove to the government that sensitive data is secure. And, in some cases, that means keeping sensitive data stored in private data centers.
In my opinion, one can make the case that cloud security has surpassed the security measures at most private data centers. But certain companies are dealing with data that requires more advanced security than what cloud providers can offer. Or perhaps, the executives in the IT department simply feel more comfortable shouldering the risk themselves. In either case, security can be a legitimate determining factor in choosing to store data and apps on premises.
Do you really know where your data is? That's one question that continues to haunt early adopters of public clouds. The fact is, once sensitive data is moved or generated on a public cloud, it becomes very difficult to see exactly where the data resides. Eventually, technology will overcome these cloud visibility hurdles. Until then, this is a very real concern for many of the IT professionals I speak with on a regular basis.
In a perfect world, all users in all locations around the globe will have high bandwidth and unfettered access into any of the various public cloud providers with which you choose to partner. We're not quite there yet. The issue is especially problematic when you are operating a global company with remote sites in multiple countries. Access to cloud resources can become a problem due to bandwidth constraints at the last mile. Another factor to consider is situations in which certain countries restrict access to all sorts of Internet content. In such cases, accessibility using private WAN connections to private data centers can be more reliable and consistent compared to using public cloud offerings and relying on the Internet as your primary access method.
Trust in a cloud provider is difficult to quantify. It depends on the specific needs of your enterprise, the cloud provider's overall reputation, and the kinds of service-level agreements you have in place. Your organization's level of trust with a specific cloud provider might transition multiple times throughout your relationship, depending on these and other factors.
When you're considering the idea of housing sensitive data inside a public cloud, you should assume that, at some point, you will lose faith that your provider is keeping your data secure to the degree you have deemed appropriate. Trust issues are often the most difficult to overcome for IT executives when considering whether or not to move data and apps into the cloud.
There's no right or wrong answer when choosing to maintain data and applications in the cloud or on premises. You may find that some data and apps are low impact and relatively easy to transition to the cloud. Other, mission critical, data and apps may be best kept on premises. It all depends on the business you are in, the data you possess, and your comfort level with having a third party manage the risk. In my opinion, Oracle's Larry Ellison is correct: On-premises and cloud data centers will almost certainly co-exist for the forseeable future. It's up to you to determine which is the most appropriate place for your specific data and application needs.
Tell us where your IT organization stands in the cloud vs. on premises debate. Are you running any apps, platforms, or infrastructure in the cloud? Is it a private or public cloud? If you're keeping things on premises, tell us why. We want to hear from you in the comments section below.
There's no right or wrong answer when choosing to maintain data and applications in the cloud or on premises. You may find that some data and apps are low impact and relatively easy to transition to the cloud. Other, mission critical, data and apps may be best kept on premises. It all depends on the business you are in, the data you possess, and your comfort level with having a third party manage the risk. In my opinion, Oracle's Larry Ellison is correct: On-premises and cloud data centers will almost certainly co-exist for the forseeable future. It's up to you to determine which is the most appropriate place for your specific data and application needs.
Tell us where your IT organization stands in the cloud vs. on premises debate. Are you running any apps, platforms, or infrastructure in the cloud? Is it a private or public cloud? If you're keeping things on premises, tell us why. We want to hear from you in the comments section below.
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