Debunking 8 myths about cloud networking solutions

May 4, 2023

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Don’t fall for cloud adoption framework myths

As many as 90% of businesses in Canada have adopted cloud networking technology. Despite the numbers, 52% of surveyed organizations have been stuck on the earliest stages of cloud maturity since 2014. From myths about security concerns to doubts about its financial benefits, these myths are holding back companies from reaching their potential and fully integrating cloud networking solutions into their daily operations. That’s why we’re getting to the truth behind these common myths. Don’t let rumours stop your business from taking advantage of cloud solutions to enhance your infrastructure and productivity.

Myth #1: Cloud computing costs more than on-premise computing

Cloud computing is the foundation of all cloud networking solutions, providing on-demand data storage without direct user management. Because there’s no need to purchase and maintain expensive hardware and infrastructure, cloud computing is usually a cheaper solution than on-premise alternatives. Despite that, there’s still the myth that hidden costs and incremental expenses will make cloud computing more expensive in the long run.

Let’s break it down. If you invest in your own technical infrastructure, that means spending money on servers, routers, software, IT consulting fees, licenses and more. If you switch to the cloud, you don’t have to worry about any of these expenses, as they’re all handled by the cloud service provider (CSP). Additionally, cloud computing’s pay-per-use model makes it a more flexible solution. You’re free to scale up or down as needed, leading to significant cost savings for businesses with fluctuating workloads or seasonal demand.

While there can be some cases where on-premise computing is more cost-effective—like when a company scales up their pay-per-use model beyond their needs—for most businesses, cloud computing offers a more economic and scalable option.

Myth #2: The cloud is just another data centre

Is there really a difference between storing data on the cloud versus keeping it in a data centre on premise? Yes, and it can make a huge difference for your business. The cloud is virtual infrastructure that delivers information through the Internet, in contrast to a traditional on-premise data centre that’s built exclusively for the purpose of storing data.

With its online infrastructure, the cloud can be used for more than just storage. Cloud networking solutions help organizations:

Undergo digital transformation.
Increase productivity with easy on-demand access to information for employees.
Improve collaboration from any location within or outside of the workplace.

As long as your employees have an Internet connection, they can instantly access the data they need to get their work done through the cloud.

Myth #3: The cloud is not secure

Security is one of the top concerns around cloud adoption and maturity. One common misconception is that data security is not a priority for CSPs. However, this is not the case. In fact, CSPs invest heavily in data security to ensure the protection of their users’ information. For example, cloud services are automatically updated whenever a new security patch rolls out. On the other hand, on-premise data storage requires manual security updates from an IT team. If any interruption delays or prevents your team from making manual updates to your on-premise environment, you’re leaving your business open to potential ransomware and malware attacks.

Additionally, when cloud infrastructure breaches do happen, it can be the fault of the user rather than the CSP. As many as 48% of organizations don’t have basic security measures like multi-factor authentication enabled for administrative accounts within cloud environments.

The bottom line is that you shouldn’t be worrying about whether cloud networking is more secure. Instead, think about what measures you can take to enhance cybersecurity on your end. Companies that use the cloud while making cybersecurity a priority can achieve safer operations compared to an on-premise IT environment because they have the additional support of a CSP, on top of their own protective measures.

Myth #4: Only large businesses benefit from moving to the cloud

Cloud-based solutions can be useful for small businesses, too. You can benefit from their seamless scalability, which is a huge advantage to any small business. The cloud gives you the flexibility to pay only for the services you require, when you require them. That can prove invaluable for a business that only needs access to a tool or solution for a small group of people but, at the same time, has plans for major growth in the future. This helps you save resources compared to storing data on premises, which requires hiring someone to maintain it and spending on hardware and software upgrades to keep it secure.

Myth #5: Preserving data on the cloud is no different to backing up files on premises

While your on-premise infrastructure may back up files reliably enough, it’s very hard to match the speed, efficiency and accuracy of the cloud. With cloud computing, you’ll invest a minimal amount of time in backing up data because it’s all handled by your CSP. And the best CSPs offer daily automated backups to ensure that there’s always a copy of all your data in case of an emergency. It’s hard to match that level of service with on-premise data preservation without spending an unreasonable amount of time, energy and resources.

Myth #6: Cloud networking solutions are slow and affected by latency

There’s a myth that, because cloud networking solutions run on the Internet, businesses who use them will experience latency issues more frequently. However, that’s not necessarily the case. While latency with cloud networking solutions can happen, it’s usually not the fault of your CSP or the solution itself. After all, cloud solutions run as fast as your business’ Internet connection. And a network that’s burdened to capacity or experiencing interference from physical objects can slow down online applications on all connected devices.

Latency can also be caused by IT teams backhauling information through on-premise data centres. Backhauling creates higher latency and a poorer user experience, but is often done to increase security. It’s important to know that the best CSPs have the most advanced security features available, along with security experts and automatic maintenance, which makes backhauling unnecessary. And when the backhauling stops, businesses are unlikely to have any delays in the cloud.

Myth #7: The only benefit of cloud networking solutions are the IT cost reductions

While migrating to the cloud can lead to IT cost savings, that’s far from its only advantage. The primary value of cloud networking solutions are the many business benefits they offer. These range from:

Enhanced analytics to better understand customer data.
Support for developer innovation by making it easy to experiment with and test new applications without hardware limitations, leading to faster time to market.
Flexibility for businesses who don’t need to pay for or build their own infrastructure.
Efficient data retrieval and storage for anyone in the workplace and for those working remotely.

Myth #8: Moving to the cloud is too time-consuming

While any transition depends on the requirements of your business, it can be as simple as shifting your existing on-premise infrastructure to the cloud. This involves transferring all your data while keeping its integrity intact. With this approach, you can migrate your business to a cloud infrastructure within a few weeks instead of months. While this method isn’t applicable to every organization, it does show that transitioning to the cloud doesn’t always have to be a complex, time-consuming task.

Use cloud networking solutions without worries

Cloud networking is often misunderstood due to stories of failed adoptions and a fear of change. These myths can deter you from using cloud networking solutions, which can improve your business’ operations and increase productivity, especially when your team is working online. Debunking these beliefs is crucial in order to fully realize the benefits that cloud networking has to offer for businesses of any size.

Don’t fall for cloud adoption framework myths

Use cloud networking solutions without worries

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