Pros
The biggest, most important pro of using the cloud is the safety of your data. With your data in the cloud, everything is protected even if a catastrophe destroys all of your on-site hardware. It simply needs to be restored and you're back in business.
The cost structure of cloud computing is also quite different. Rather than purchasing and maintaining your own server infrastructure — and dealing with the unplanned costs and headaches of hardware failures — you're subscribing to a service where all of that is handled for you. This can simplify your IT budget considerably, and the monthly expense is immediately deductible rather than being treated as a depreciating capital asset.
Working from the cloud also creates a natural flow for teams. With data in the cloud, your team can access shared documents and applications from anywhere with an internet connection — and collaborate in real time.
Cons
The most obvious downside is internet dependency. Your cloud services are only as available as your internet connection. Internet outages are less common than they once were, but they remain a possibility.
Ongoing cost is another consideration. While the upfront investment for cloud services is much lower than building in-house infrastructure, you'll be paying for it as long as you use it.
Finally, security and compliance must be considered. You're entrusting a third party to hold your data. Businesses handling highly sensitive data or operating under strict regulatory requirements should ensure the cloud services they choose meet those compliance standards — or keep their data in-house.
Cloud computing can be an excellent solution for many businesses. If you want guidance on whether it's right for yours, give us a call.