Technology has come a long way in a short space of time, with the cloud standing out as one of the best examples. Improvements to communications, staff workflow and productivity can all be seen through the implementation of new cloud platforms, but there are also misconceptions that can limit the benefits.

It’s especially important that IT leaders understand common cloud misapprehensions, and the most appropriate ways to deal with them.

Understanding and dealing with cloud misconceptions

Like a number of new technologies, the cloud has quickly expanded in use across a number of enterprises and business sectors. In turn, this has resulted in the perpetration of a number of myths – many of which can lead to false expectations.

It’s important that these misconceptions are understood by the IT leaders within an organisation, so as to ensure projects have realistic, achievable goals.

The cloud is applicable everywhere

This is certainly one of the more common myths, and for good reason. A substantial number of technologies have been paired with the cloud to great effect, such as video conferencing, file storage and remote working. In turn, this has lead to an assumption that the technologies can be utilised for any purpose.

For example, a business may operate a legacy application and decide that it’s a good candidate for a transition to the cloud. Unless there are cost savings, however, it’s a good idea to forgo any such implementation and continue operating the legacy platform.

The solution: A project management framework such as PRINCE2 is one of the most effective ways to deal with cloud misconceptions, as it means a concrete plan is put in place from the outset.

Any cloud project undertaken through a proven methodology has clear goals that all personnel involved in the project understand – this is key to ensure success. When everyone is on the same page, there are rarely unrealistic expectations that cloud cause delays or derail the implementation of a cloud platform.

The cloud is less secure than traditional technologies

Moving from traditional IT platforms to a new, cloud-based alternative can be a daunting prospect for businesses of any size, given the change required. In many cases, security concerns are also rampant – but these concerns are often unfounded.

A cloud platform that’s implemented correctly should have the same focus on security as traditional platforms, along with additional layers of security in the form of monitoring. Essentially, a vendor constantly surveys a cloud platform, assessing any possible security threats that could cause issues.

The solution: Businesses may also want an additional security assurance, and a security framework is likely to be of value here.

SABSA is a methodology designed specifically to assist businesses in the creation of useful, risk-focused security architectures. It’s highly effective for organisations of all sizes, given that it’s essentially a group of frameworks, models and processes that can be utilised individually or as a group.

As a result, the methodology can be tailored to the current technology implementation underway within the business, such as the cloud.

There’s no data privacy

A lack of privacy was cited as the most common cloud myth by Microsoft. This almost certainly stems from the misconception that all company data is stored in a central location that’s accessible to other businesses sharing the same storage. In fact, each business using a cloud-based solution is accessing a highly secure section that no other companies have access to. Any possible privacy breach is more likely to come from within the business.

The solution: To ensure that privacy remains a top priority, businesses can again use the PRINCE2 framework. This means a plan is effected that controls who has access to the cloud-based system, thus ensuring only staff that need access are granted it.

Overcoming cloud misconceptions is a necessary step in order for businesses to successfully implement cloud technologies.