Pros and Cons of Cloud Computing

Cloud computing can have unique advantages for a company or organization. These advantages can help make a company excel over its competitors in the market place. The main advantage of cloud computing is it allows all data to be centralized in one location, which leads to quicker and easier access to company data, which is readily available when needed.(Reilly,2011). Cloud computing eliminates the needs for a company to have large servers onsite to store its data. By storing company data on a cloud allows them unlimited storage space for important company data. The offsite data storage helps to keep company data safe from fire and theft.(Reilly,2011). There is a cost savings when a company utilizes cloud computing. The cloud software is easily upgraded and maintained by the service provider, this eliminates the need for company to purchase and download updated versions of the software and bug fixes.(Reilly,2011). The cloud allows a company to pay a fixed annual subscription for the software, which allows business owners to know what the fees are for this service and prevents them from being blindsided with unforeseen software upgrades.(Klein,2009). The next advantage of cloud computing is it allows universal access to documents. You do not have to be at your work place to access work documents or have to log onto a work server. By having all company documents on the cloud, all you need is a computer and have access to the internet.(Miller,2009). Another advantage of cloud computing is it allows employees to collaborate easier on projects. By having important team documents stored on the cloud, it allows multiple team members to collaborate and update documents instantaneously for other team members to view.(Miller,2009).

Despite the numerous advantages with companies and organization converting their servers to the cloud, there are a variety of disadvantages associated with utilizing the cloud. The first disadvantage is accessing company data on the cloud...