From avoiding hidden data costs to flexible network design, the truth behind these 5 cloud connectivity misconceptions can help your business stay competitive.
The use of public cloud connectivity has become increasingly popular in recent years, offering businesses more flexible and cost-effective tech solutions. Despite the many benefits of cloud computing, there are some misconceptions surrounding cloud connectivity that can cause confusion and mistrust in businesses considering using the public cloud.
In this article, we’ll talk about 5 common misconceptions about using public cloud connectivity, such as concerns about hidden data costs and weakened network connections. By learning the truth about these misconceptions, your business will be one step closer to using the cloud to its full potential.
- There are No Fees for Transferring Data
It is a common misconception that using cloud computing always results in your business reducing costs. While it is true that you only pay for any services you use with the cloud, some cloud providers may charge fees for any data transferring out of the cloud, called egress fees.
Data input, or ingress, is typically free, but taking any data out of your cloud can result in some significant charges depending on your provider. These fees can add up quickly, especially for organisations with several users working simultaneously. This can result in some hefty bills to pay if you aren’t careful!
However, there is a way to avoid these fees. You can use a private network connection to access your cloud, which can reduce the chances of packet loss and enhance data security.
A private network connection between your computer and the cloud provider can also help lower data egress charges.
It is worth noting that any organisation using multiple cloud services should ensure that all their clouds can connect to each other through a private network to reduce their overall egress costs.
Caption: You need as high-quality of a transport network as you can find for your network to remain secure and effective. Pexels
- Overlaying SD-WAN on Low-Cost Broadband is Effective
When businesses switch to complex, multi-cloud models, they often overlook the transport part of the network. While some may believe that this is of little consequence, the quality of your work fully depends on it!
Some providers may offer SD-WAN over low-cost broadband, but this often results in poor connectivity, network congestion, and transfer delays, which can seriously compromise your work.
You should focus on finding a provider that offers high-quality transport networks that offer efficiency, security, and full control. This provider can also help you create a cloud connectivity strategy based around your business’s custom needs, so you know you’re getting a solution that will work for you.
- My Business Only Needs One Cloud for Our Data
Some businesses may believe that they only need one cloud to manage all their data. While this may be true for some smaller businesses, larger businesses often need to use multiple clouds to manage all of their information.
As businesses become more complex, they will likely need more clouds to manage their data, and good providers will be capable of adapting to that need. However, this also results in more complexity in your network, which will need to be addressed by your provider in terms of flexible connectivity solutions.
Because having so much data across multiple clouds can become disorganised quickly, we do recommend using one unified network strategy and service provider. By doing this, you can have a single provider managing everything, which can offer improved organisation and security.
- Cloud Networks are One-Size-Fits-All
Those without a full understanding of how clouds work may think that all clouds are the same, when in fact, each cloud is unique to the needs of its business.
To have a cloud that works best for you, your provider will need to consider your business’s architectural design, which has three levels. While the first two focus on your business’s applications and data, the last focuses on your network’s overall design.
Your network’s design governs how your required tools interact with one another, so it’s pretty important.
Having a well-designed network for your specific business is crucial so your cloud works optimally for your requirements. Cloud providers should secure your network with a variety of flexible overlay solutions to link your processes together, so you have a custom design that prioritises your business’s needs.
Caption: As your business’s needs change, your cloud system will have to adapt, so you can keep doing your work as best as possible. Pexels
- My Cloud Won’t Need to Update in the Future
Work on the cloud is not yet finished, and likely never will be! Part of the beauty of the public cloud is its limitless scalability. This means it can change its resources as needed to meet ever-changing demands.
Seeing a provider that offers direct connectivity to the cloud is great, but you should also make sure your provider takes scalability into account. As your organisation grows, you may have to change needs. Your provider should be able to adjust easily to these needs, so your business can keep doing what it does best.
Some ways that your provider may adapt to your business’s growth and changing needs is by offering connectivity to several clouds at once and similar future-proofing solutions.
By remaining flexible, a good cloud provider will be able to scale your operations appropriately over time, so you don’t hit any roadblocks along the way.
Conclusion
Public cloud connectivity is becoming increasingly popular on an international level as businesses seek more flexible tech solutions. While these many misconceptions can result in mistrust of the cloud or confusion over what it offers, their truths help provide some clarity for businesses to make informed decisions in the future.
Always be sure to select a cloud provider that has many flexible, custom solutions that solve your business’s specific needs. By leveraging the full potential of cloud computing, your business will be able to keep up with the ever-changing demands of the future.
