Some believe that the best way to ensure the security of cloud-based platforms and to bolster confidence in them is to opt for private rather than public services.
The uptake of cloud computing is continuing to grow and it has been widely publicised that the key roadblock to adoption for many businesses is the risk of security flaws within public cloud platforms, both real and imagined. Now an executive within F5 Networks has added her opinion to the debate, claiming that most of these issues can be addressed by opting for a private cloud alternative.
Lori MacVittie said that the public cloud could not be expected to address the concerns of potential clients whilst private cloud options can, with customers justified in requesting that any concerns are promptly acted upon by vendors.
Ms. MacVittie said that this may trickle down to the public cloud providers in time as demand grows, although she believes that this process is being hindered because of the reluctance of firms to completely switch their IT infrastructure over to the public cloud, leaving vendors unsure as to where they are succeeding and where they are proving to be inadequate.
Conversely, Ms. MacVittie suggests that public cloud providers may be influenced by a handful of high profile clients whose needs shape the service for all customers, which could further limit accessibility and uptake.
Ms. MacVittie admits that the definitions of the public and private cloud are vague and lacking unity, with some using the latter as a derogatory term. However, the fact that recent figures published by SunGard Availability Services show businesses could save up to 55 per cent of IT budgets by total cloud adoption should be incentive enough to show that clearer boundaries and better understanding of the benefits must be forged.
SunGard’s Keith Tilley added that cloud computing could help cut the costs of equipment and maintenance and also noted that the figures factor in the reduction in costs associated with data centre staff and the energy bills associated with in-house IT resources.
Many experts are urging businesses to consider cloud adoption in complement to existing systems and few have moved in-house platforms to the cloud in their entirety. The debate over security seems set to continue.
