One of the most misunderstood internet-technology in today’s time is Cloud computing. If you ask someone what “the cloud” is, you would get 10 different answers. But, since the internet has embraced cloud computing with open arms it is important to understand what it really is.
Unfortunately, there are some myths surrounding cloud computing. Pay attention to the information below to know the truth about them.
Myth#1 – The Cloud = The Internet
Yes! When someone says “my data is on the cloud”, we normally interpret that their data is on the internet. While it might be true figuratively but there are some differences.
The cloud is a network of remote servers which you can access only through the internet. The internet is one giant global network of connections but the cloud are usually in thousands and still considered a single entity.
Moreover, there are private and public clouds. The former is similar to a Dropbox. Whereas, the latter is similar to a set of enterprise servers dedicated to a specific company.
Myth#2 – The Cloud = Virtualization
The majority of cloud service providers use virtualization. It makes cloud management easier and more secure. However, do not be confused as cloud computing and virtualization are two different things.
For example, think of a server hosting service with cloud having 10 physical servers. Instead of having only 10 units they can use virtualization to split every server into 5 virtual servers. This results in a total of 50 units for use. As every virtual server is a separate environment they cannot interfere with each other. This offers increased security.
It is not something new, but a common technique which leads many to believe that cloud computing and virtualization are the same.
Myth#3 – Data On the Cloud is Unsafe
There are many concerns over the data security that cloud management offers. If a cybercriminal wants to steal data, it will be easy for them to break into the cloud instead of your computer. Put simply, the cloud data is at an increased risk of online attacks.
But, this does not means the cloud is not safe. There are many cloud service providers who deploy top data security to keep their servers invisible to hackers. With the latest security measures, a cloud server is more protected than your laptop or desktop.
Keep in mind that cloud security is also the user’s responsibility. Cloud computing experts recommend that you keep an extra copy of the data in an external drive. It will come in handy if the cloud servers were to get compromised due to any reason. Make sure the cloud account is encrypted with top security measure. For example, if you were to purchase rackspace cloud computing then enter rackspace webmail login and make changes to the cloud security.
Myth#4 – Cloud is Expensive
Cloud computing is one such technology that many often think of as a double-edged sword. On one hand, the one-time fee has been replaced with subscriptions to help uses store data. Many cloud services are free but these offer limited features. The cloud services might seem a bit more expensive in the initial time. But, in the long run these are quiet cheap.
Myth#5 – Cloud Computing is Just a Fad
There are many who think that cloud computing is nothing more than a trend which will pass away in some time. Some do not notice that cloud storage has expanded tremendously over the last decade.
Cloud computing has had a great influence on every aspect of the internet. It has been around since the 1950s. This means that cloud is not going anywhere. Moreover, many industries are slowly transitioning to the cloud. Many are in the transition to adapt the cloud technology to refine what they offer.
Myth#6 – The Cloud = Online Data Storage
There are many people who get confused between “the cloud” and “cloud storage”. Cloud storage is nothing more than remote servers which store data. For example, Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive are all cloud servers where you upload files and download them as per need.
At the same time, there are cloud services. For example, Google Docs where your documents are stored on Google cloud. You can edit them without the need to download them first. All processing takes place on Google servers.
Conclusion
Cloud computing like the rackspace login is the future when it comes to storing data online. But, for anyone to reap the full benefits of this future-tech it is necessary to let go of these six myths described above.