Or: Cloud storage vs. in-house servers. It’s likely that no one has missed the hype surrounding cloud storage over the past year. The media has been buzzing with activity when it comes to reporting on it. But when it comes to file sharing and storage,are cloud solutions really that much better comparedto in-house servers? With no physical access to the server, you can’t configure the hardware as you want, and what about the security aspects? Let’s do a quick analysis of some of the pros and cons:
Speed –If the connection between your workstation and server is slow this can negatively impact the productivity. Transferring and accessing files is something most employees do regularly, and as such is an important factor to take into consideration. It’s not as easy as one may think to compare the two options as today’s internet speeds are starting to be able to match a normal wireless connection. If your company uses a gigabit internal network, with all computers connected via cable, the local server will win hands down. But if you, as many do, use wireless networks and have a speedy internet connection, you will generally not notice that much of a difference.
Availability–Most providers of cloud storage solutions offer some kind of SLA (Service Level Agreement), with systems guaranteeing redundancy, included in the service. Likewise, an in-house server can have similar redundancy protocols setup. If your internet connection is limited, a local system will have higher up-time compared to a cloud server.However, if you have a strong internet connection, that won’t be an issue. Furthermore, consider that it will be straightforwardto remote work and continue file sharing with a cloud-based collaboration solution.
Security – Many fear putting sensitive documents “out there,” but any respectable service provider will have encryption in place both for transfer and storage of files. In fact, despite the natural fear of trusting in a third-party cloud-based service, companies who have their security provided for them are able to rely on setups that are normally far more complex and reliable than if handled onsite.
Price – If you are a small to medium-sized business, there may not be as much budget for IT solutions. Perhaps you have limited IT knowledge and setting up a server is too much of a hassle with all the infrastructure needed to be put in place. If you are in this category a cloud solution is definitely for you andmost cloud providers have a pay-as-you-go plan, which means that you only pay for what you use. With a local server you have your set of hardware, regardless of whether you use it or not.
Conclusion:As with any business solution it depends on your needs and budget. Both an in-house server and a cloud solution haveadvantages and disadvantages. If you want to avoid the hassle of maintaining your file storage and pay less at the same time, the cloud is for you. If you have the IT knowledge and resources available, an in-house server may provide you with a more personalised solutions.
