4 Myths about Cloud Computing and Why They're Wrong

From backing up data to protecting it from hackers and more, cloud computing offers companies a scalable solution for virtually any IT needs. As with many emerging technologies, though, several myths concerning cloud computing have arisen, making it more difficult for businesses to see the true benefits behind it.

There are many misunderstandings surrounding cloud services, but the top four are:

1. It’s just a fad - Trends in business come and go, but cloud computing is here to stay. In 2008, the use of cloud computing was at just 12%. In 2014, it is projected to be 60%, an increase of an astounding 48%. Needless to say, cloud services are on the rise and show no signs of slowing.
2. It steals jobs - Contrary to what many companies believe, cloud computing can actually be a complement to an in-house IT staff. In fact, one of the greatest benefits of cloud services is that you can pick and choose the services you want, giving some to the cloud and leaving the rest to your own IT pros. Even if you opt for a comprehensive solution, your in-house team can be of great help with managing the cloud solutions, educating employees, big-data analytics and programming, and more.
3. It’s expensive - As with any investment, cloud computing does come with an upfront cost. However, it saves money over time, and not just with maintenance; it can also turn capital expenses into operating expenses. In addition, cloud computing is more efficient than in-house servers, since you only pay for what you use and don’t waste money purchasing equipment that you may not really need. Plus, as with any technology, as it continues to advance and grow in popularity, its costs are sure to drop further.
4. It’s less secure - Many people believe that an in-house server is somehow safer than cloud servers, but actually, it’s easier and more efficient to set permissions, run updates, and perform regular maintenance for cloud servers. In fact, 57% of people who switched to cloud computing felt that their security was increased as compared to traditional backups.

From disaster recovery to data management to protection against security threats like viruses, cloud computing offers innumerable benefits to businesses of all sizes. With education and continuing growth in popularity, though, myths like the ones above are sure to become less prevalent, and more businesses will be able to take advantage of what cloud computing has to offer.