Cloud Computing – For and Against
Strengths:
- Most Cloud Computing providers offer instant scalability using a thin client such as a web browser
- Cloud computing offers cost efficiency as users pay for what they use
- The infrastructure complexity is hidden from the actual consumer
- Depending on the supplier, Cloud Computing offers a high degree of resource replication and redundancy hence avoiding data loss
Weaknesses:
- There isn’t currently a defined set of standards for Cloud Computing, hence most Cloud services offered are currently based on propriety setup and techniques, which makes it difficult to switch between Cloud vendors
- Applications may require extra enhancements to be fit for the Cloud, these enhancements will vary depending on the Cloud Computing vendor.
- It can be difficult to divine actual costs for Cloud Computing, as pricing is often based on arbitrary constructs, eg. “Compute Units”, with no clear guideline on how that applies to the consumer’s application.
