As global Cloud computing capabilities continue to grow on a daily basis, the Cloud seems to be asserting itself into more and more of our computing functions. Some things like data, document and file storage seem like a perfect fit for the Cloud.
And there’s something intuitively appealing about using the Cloud as a way to restore your systems and data in the face of an IT disaster. You’ve got a problem “here,” but all your important stuff is safe “over there.”
Indeed, more and more organizations are using Cloud-based services for their disaster recovery preparedness and plans. But as with anything, there are two sides to every story. Here are some benefits and inconveniences to using the Cloud as a DR tool:
Pros
- Reduced Capital Outlay: You don’t need to spend money on expensive equipment, just “rental” fees on a monthly, or annual basis.
- Protection from the Elements: Facilities for Cloud-based servers are located away from the usual weather or flooding dangers.
- Faster Start-up: Your DR system can be up and running quickly without dealing with set up of all that hardware, software, licenses, networks, etc.
- Metered Billing: Your DR costs are based only on your actual allocation and consumption of resources.
- Reduced Demand on Internal Resources: Relying on Cloud providers’ personnel actually gets you better access to scarce skillsets for testing, set-up and maintenance.
- Guaranteed Service, Performance and Response Times!
- Scaling of Capacity: Cloud-based DR gives you more flexible provisioning of capacity to accommodate growth or, as required, reductions month-to-month.
- DR Bargains: Access to bulk buying arrangements or lower unit costs for processing, storage, network bandwidth, licenses, etc.
- Access to “Special Teams”: Access to highly-skilled people at time of disaster, speeding up recovery and minimizing data loss.
Cons
- Increased Attention to IT Governance: You will need to manage the cloud service provider, their services and billings, insuring they are measuring up to your service, privacy and security expectations.
- Inflexibility of Cloud Offerings: Can they address unique requirements like on-the-spot access to expertise, off-hours service, ability to migrate data on demand, access to last January’s back-up versions, etc?
- Runaway Extra Costs: You may be hit with pay-per-use costs you weren’t expecting, because of per-transaction and resource unit consumption: e.g. maintaining usernames of old employees, taking special surcharges on overages, requesting non-contracted services. You will need to monitor constantly to keep these costs under control.
- Not Good with Apps that Aren’t Fully Web-Enabled: Some legacy applications may not function well over a network, or in the Cloud.
- Security Concerns: Although the Cloud provider guarantees security, in the Snowden age, nobody can be completely comfortable about privacy and storing sensitive information offsite.
