Digital Transformation: Cloud Computing for the Non-Technologist, Part 2 Summary

This ChatGPT article summary is significantly better than the summary it did of article 1. That said, you can check out the full article here.

In this article, the second in a series of eight describing technologies for the non-technologists, the author explores some of the downsides of cloud computing. While cloud computing offers many benefits, there are several factors that can make it unsuitable for certain companies or situations. Firstly, regulatory constraints and uncertainties may prevent some companies from moving all of their systems to the cloud, especially if they deal with PII data or have legal restrictions or customer agreements that limit cloud use. Secondly, the cost of moving data and applications to the cloud may not be worth the investment in many situations. Finally, certain requirements for security, speed, scalability, and latency may necessitate a company operating its own infrastructure.

However, even if cloud computing is not the right choice for a company’s entire computing solution, it can still be used as part of a hybrid cloud model. Companies and leaders who tout cloud computing as the be-all and end-all of computing solutions are showing their ignorance of the technology’s advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, it is important for companies to perform a thorough analysis of their needs and constraints before deciding whether cloud computing is the right solution for them.

Once a company has decided to use cloud computing, they may need to choose which cloud service to use. While cloud services are essentially commodities, meaning they are standardized and have similar features, there are still differences between clouds that companies should consider when making their choice. Factors such as application availability, regulatory compliance, security, and dependability should all be taken into account when choosing a cloud service. It is important to note that the decision to rely heavily on one cloud service should not be driven solely by cost-related factors, but rather by the company’s business goals and needs.

Brigid McDermott is the author of DX: Bridging the Divide, a substack newsletter about the business benefits and requirements of Digital Transformation. She believes that technology can make life better for everyone—if more people focus on what the technology can do, rather than just how it works.