Cloud computing used to be a broad concept where it was hard to come up with a single definition that encompasses its purpose and what it can do. These days, cloud computing is pretty much the norm for individuals and organizations where the three broad areas are identified mainly as.
- Software as a service.
- Platform as a service.
- Infrastructure as a service.
There are several prominent vendors in each of these areas such as Aviatrix which tailor-fits the service according to the needs of the consumer. The transition to the cloud was more rapid than expected, although there are still some concerns that pose a challenge to its implementation.
1] Problems with integration
There are multiple levels of integration, and in cloud computing, it can be anywhere from low-level data migration to complete cloud-hosted business automation.
Larger enterprises may inherently have the capability for inclusion, but one of the problems with cloud computing is that most small to micro businesses do not have the infrastructure to integrate.
2] Emerging scenarios with integration
Before cloud computing models even became available, organizations had to struggle with tying together on-premise systems. Shifting to the cloud means that these local applications and processes would also be connected to the cloud while at the same time ensuring that these applications are still attached to each other.
These emerging integration scenarios add to the complication of implementing cloud computing.
As a solution, most enterprises that choose to move their networks to the cloud do not do so in an instant. One of the most common solutions is to employ a hybrid cloud service where the organization uses the cloud only as an expansion of its data center but retains most of the legacy data in their on-premise infrastructure.
3] Security concerns
Apart from integration, security remains as one of the top concerns users identified in using cloud computing. Even with a VPC, security is a legitimate concern because the user is still blind to the actual location of the data. Fortunately, security measures are also evolving to meet the increasing need for better protection.
As a way to guarantee the security of your organization, you need to verify if the cloud provider employs secure user identity management, access control mechanisms, and authentication. You also need to check if the provider complies with privacy and security regulations.
4] Managing the cost
In general, cloud services are supposed to help companies save money. Most providers today offer a pay-as-you-go scheme which enables greater flexibility and scalability for the subscriber. But there are instances when it can be harder to predict the cost of using the cloud because the services are on-demand.
Conclusion
Most enterprises that use cloud services today connect public and private cloud platforms for optimum efficiency. There are benefits to using a private cloud, and public cloud together which is why choosing to have both is advantageous for the most part.
Despite the many challenges that companies face with cloud integration, there is no doubt that adoption will continue to grow and new integration models may become available to provide users with enhanced solutions and diverse options.
