Most people do not know and do not care about the difference between cloud computing and traditional computing. However, they are benefiting from the results. For example, thanks to cloud computing, millions of people can visit Amazon.com every hour during their Black Friday specials or their Amazon Prime day without worrying about pages not loading or not responding well. This was impossible prior to cloud computing because previously there was a limit on working memory and power.
Traditional computing has been the way of business for decades. Soon, and probably sooner than most people had expected, cloud computing will be seen as the traditional way of business. COVID-19 has already increased the importance of cloud computing, transforming how businesses operate. Let’s look at the difference between the platforms and identify ways that cloud computing is changing traditional IT and architecture.
With cloud computing, information can be accessed anywhere. The information is secured and storage needs can be adjusted to meet the needs of the company. There are also lower startup costs than are seen with traditional IT. It is easier to modernize architecture and implement it.
Traditional computing lacks the flexibility and resilience of cloud computing. If an organization has confidential information stored in the cloud, that information has been distributed over several servers. This means that if one server breaks down, your business can continue to operate without losing capability or information. Cloud computing offers more storage space and servers. It also provides more computing power. This means that software and applications run faster on the cloud than ever before.
The benefit of cloud computing is not needing as large of an in-house IT department. You are able to save time and money. You know that the proper security strategies are being implemented. When your data is stored in the cloud, you do not have to worry about data being lost.
Traditional computing has been the way of business for decades. Soon, and probably sooner than most people had expected, cloud computing will be seen as the traditional way of business. COVID-19 has already increased the importance of cloud computing, transforming how businesses operate. Let’s look at the difference between the platforms and identify ways that cloud computing is changing traditional IT and architecture.
1. Position
The first thing that separates traditional computing from cloud computing is the position. Traditional computing happens on hard drives and web servers. Cloud computing uses third-party servers that are hosted by third-party hosting companies. A business could access the servers online.2. Software
Cloud software is offered as a service. This means you don’t purchase an application that you are going to use but subscribe to the service and then connect to the service and use it based on your need. As a result, implementing new software is easy. Software use can be scaled up or down based on the needs of the business. For example, an organization that has remote employees might use some quality software to track worker hours their employees are working. When they use an application stored in the cloud, both they and their employees have the ability to access the application wherever they are.The software is not written to a desk. If modifications are needed, these can be done quickly to meet the needs of businesses.
3. Cost
Typically, cloud computing is less expensive than traditional computing. With traditional computing, one business maintains, repairs, and updates their server. All the expenses fall on that business. However, in a cloud environment, the servers are maintained by a third party. And they distribute the expense of server maintenance among several organizations. The investment cost is lower because there is no need to buy expensive equipment.4. User-Friendliness
Cloud computing is done on the Internet. In order to use an application, the user must have a fast, reliable, and stable Internet connection. However, as long as a stable Internet is available, data can be accessed from anywhere. This is useful for companies, especially now during the COVID-19 pandemic where work from home is becoming the norm.5. Automation
A major difference between traditional IT infrastructure and cloud computing is how they are managed. Cloud hosting is overseen by the storage provider. They are the ones responsible for all the hardware and keeping security measures in place. It’s the storage provider that keeps the cloud running smoothly. With a traditional IT infrastructure, it’s the IT personnel who have the responsibility to regularly monitor and maintain servers. The IT personnel must know security threats, upgrades, and configuration problems.
How Traditional Computing Is Giving Way to Cloud Computing IT Infrastructures
When a server is on site, those who have access to the hardware can monitor stored data and applications. With the on-site model, a business needs to purchase add-ons and upgrades. This is expensive. Conversely, with cloud computing, things are more flexible and scalable.With cloud computing, information can be accessed anywhere. The information is secured and storage needs can be adjusted to meet the needs of the company. There are also lower startup costs than are seen with traditional IT. It is easier to modernize architecture and implement it.
Traditional computing lacks the flexibility and resilience of cloud computing. If an organization has confidential information stored in the cloud, that information has been distributed over several servers. This means that if one server breaks down, your business can continue to operate without losing capability or information. Cloud computing offers more storage space and servers. It also provides more computing power. This means that software and applications run faster on the cloud than ever before.
Changing Infrastructure and Architecture to Maximize the Benefits of Cloud Computing
It is increasingly apparent that solely moving applications to the cloud is not enough to benefit from cloud computing. According to BrainStation’s 2020 survey, 74 percent of organizations are actively involved in digital transformation.Organizations are seeing the need to reassess the infrastructure stack and how it works. If their end goal is to minimize cost, increase speed, and improve agility, they need to have an intake and approach to transformation. This is because functions, processes, and partners all work together.Multi-Cloud
Multi-cloud came into being because businesses wanted a way to not have to depend on just one cloud provider. Multi-cloud infrastructures allow companies to select the services they want from a specific cloud. They can choose one set of resources from one cloud or a combination of resources from various clouds. This is changing how companies go about their work. Structural changes like these mean that organizations need to increase the size of their IT personnel to manage these complex systems.Security
Cloud computing has many benefits. But there are still some questions about security. For example, as the cloud computing industry gets larger, measures will need to be put in place to see that growth happens securely. Issues, such as less secure environments or misplaced data, will create unique challenges for businesses. They will need to respond by developing new encryption processes and strategies, creating new defenses, and relying on experts for tech support and consulting.Conclusion
The benefit of a traditional IT structure is the ability to ensure that only approved personnel have access to data and applications that are stored in your servers. However, history has shown that just because data is stored on premise is no guarantee of safety.The benefit of cloud computing is not needing as large of an in-house IT department. You are able to save time and money. You know that the proper security strategies are being implemented. When your data is stored in the cloud, you do not have to worry about data being lost.
