Cloud computing is one of the most significant growth areas in IT .But what exactly is the term? What are the advantages and disadvantages? And can you trust it all? We made ourselves bright for you.
What Is Cloud Computing?
Cloud computing is a service in which computing power or software is temporarily made available for a fee via the Internet (rental service). At its core, cloud computing as a service comprises three areas:
- Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) describes the rental service of virtual computers, such as B. Servers.
- Platform as a Service (PaaS) offers the possibility of, e.g. B. renting databases or development platforms.
- Software as a Service (SaaS) describes a service where software can be rented.
Advantages
Companies benefit from cloud computing in many ways. The rental costs are much lower than with IT operations in-house. The software is always up to date as applications are always opened in the web browser. Another decisive advantage of the “clouds” is their constant and completely location-independent availability: As soon as the user has an Internet connection and an up-to-date browser, he also has access to his cloud. In addition, cloud services can be individually adapted to the customer’s requirements.
Security & Risks
Company data is sensitive data that is not intended for everyone. That is why the issue of data security plays a significant role in cloud computing. The dangers are many. Difficult localization of the data also makes it more difficult to protect it with conventional means. In the case of data deletions, there is B. the risk of lousy deletion. Often it is also unclear in which countries the computers and servers are located. Data protection regulations are much more careless in many countries than in Germany. Therefore, companies that want to make use of cloud solutions should find out in advance about the cloud provider and its services. If the necessary know-how is missing, external consultants should be consulted.
Complexity Needs Standards
As much as the IT sector may change and renew, common standards and norms for cloud infrastructures remain essential in a globalized world. Therefore, most global IT groups now rely on international guidelines such as ISO (International Organization for Standardization) or ITU-T (ITU Telecommunication Standardization Sector). The Federal Office for Information Security has also summarized the minimum requirements for information security in the key issues paper ” Security Recommendations for Cloud Computing Providers “.
Germany Still Below The EU Average
The European use of cloud computing was examined more closely by a survey by Eurostat. In an EU comparison, the average usage is 19%. European countries in comparison:
- 11% of German companies entrust their data and applications to third-party cloud providers. Germany is thus below the European average.
- 51% of Finnish companies use cloud computing. Finland is thus a European pioneer.
- 5% of Romanian companies use cloud solutions. Romania thus brings up the rear in a European comparison.
In Germany, cloud computing still has a lot of potential. The distribution when using cloud solutions in German companies is also attractive:
- 56% use cloud computing primarily for data storage
- 46% in the field of email
- 33% for the operation of the company database
- 21% use cloud solutions for office software
- 18% for CRM software applications
Conclusion
Even if the general suspicion is obvious: cloud computing is not generally unsafe. Instead, every company should clarify in advance how sensitive their data and applications are. The cloud provider should then be critically examined for its solutions, data protection regulations, etc. If these two aspects are carefully considered, high security and cost savings can be reconciled.
Also Read – Internet Of Things: What Trends Should You Watch Out
