How Cloud Infrastructure Is Different From Legacy Infrastructure
By Santosh Kumar | September 29, 2020 | Cloud Computing
Cloud is the latest driving force of business computing and software delivery. It is taking over the legacy in-house IT infrastructure and replacing traditional IT systems with more reliable, secure, affordable, scalable, and flexible solutions. Yet there are several businesses out there that still rely on their conventional IT infrastructure and data center model.
When starting a business, choosing the right IT model is a crucial step. As one would expect, companies look for safe and secure data storage solutions capable of storing massive amounts of business data and files that can be accessed while keeping the costs minimal. The cloud is the perfect answer for such businesses. Besides offering secure, reliable, efficient, and flexible data storage options, it enables business process automation, faster time to market, and efficient disaster recovery and backup.
When starting a business, choosing the right IT model is a crucial step. As one would expect, companies look for safe and secure data storage solutions capable of storing massive amounts of business data and files that can be accessed while keeping the costs minimal. The cloud is the perfect answer for such businesses. Besides offering secure, reliable, efficient, and flexible data storage options, it enables business process automation, faster time to market, and efficient disaster recovery and backup.
Let’s Talk About The Legacy IT Infrastructure First!
Legacy data centers comprise different hardware equipment like computers, that are connected to a network through a server which is generally installed on the premises. Using the hardware, employees are able to access all business files, applications, and data stored on the server.
Legacy IT infrastructure is one of the most secure data hosting systems that enable companies to have full control of their data and applications available on their local servers. Organizations that require a dedicated and customized data hosting solution should opt for legacy infrastructure.
Organizations that choose this IT model need to buy more hardware equipment and upgrades to scale their storage with respect to the growing business needs. Software upgrades are also essential to deal with situations where hardware equipment failures occur. Businesses establish their IT data centers on their premises and are managed by in-house IT departments.
Cloud Infrastructure VS Legacy IT infrastructure
Cloud infrastructure is a virtual hosting solution that can be accessed using the cloud. Servers, networks, and software are all hosted in the cloud, unlike the traditional infrastructure where everything is hosted using the physical hardware as we explained in the above para. The real-time virtual environment is hosted among various servers simultaneously. It eliminates the need of investing in additional equipment when businesses plan to scale. Companies can easily rent data storage from cloud storage solution providers like Tectra Technologies. Since you have to pay on a usage basis, it is a more cost-effective and efficient IT business model.
So, which one is better? Let’s compare these on the basis of fundamental aspects and see!
Automation
Automation is one of the most distinguishing aspects of legacy IT infrastructure and cloud computing. While cloud systems are managed by the solution providers traditional IT systems require in-house IT teams. Cloud solution providers take care of the hardware, implement security measures, monitor the servers, and ensure the smooth running of applications. However, organizations with legacy IT business models need to hire skilled and trained professionals who manage and monitor the servers manually. It is again more time consuming and costly for any business as compared to cloud infrastructure.
Resilience and Elasticity
In the cloud, the applications and data are distributed evenly over all the servers that are connected to function as a single server. So, in case of any server failure, there are no chances of downtime or loss of data. Moreover, you get more storage space, resources, and improved computing capabilities that enable faster and efficient execution of your applications.
Legacy IT infrastructure, on the other hand, is not this resilient. It does not assure consistent high-quality performance of the servers. Since they have restricted storage space, they are more prone to downtimes that can hamper the productivity of your workforce.
Running Costs
As you would have understood by now, that cloud computing is definitely more cost-effective than the traditional IT systems due to several aspects. When businesses opt for cloud-based services, they only pay for what they use. At the same time, companies can achieve more efficiency and increase profits at lesser costs.
In traditional IT infrastructure, companies will need to buy additional hardware equipment and server resources whenever they scale. There would be times when you would be paying for the unused resources. Moreover, the physical servers deteriorate with passing years that minimizes the ROI substantially in legacy IT infrastructure.
Flexibility and Scalability
Cloud solutions are more flexible and scalable as compared to legacy systems. There are unlimited storage space and server resources in the on-demand virtual cloud space. Depending on the website traffic levels, cloud servers scale up or down, and business owners can download any software as and when required. As a result, your business gains more flexibility when scaling and expanding.
With legacy IT systems, businesses can only utilize the available resources. In case of more storage requirements, they need to purchase or rent more servers. You might also need to hire more staff to manage the new equipment. Moreover, you will need to buy more software licenses and install the software manually on the new hardware. It is clearly more time-consuming as well as expensive as compared to the cloud hosting solutions.
Security
Companies might assume that cloud-based services are less secure because of the involvement of external solution providers. The cloud IT systems can be accessed by anyone to view and utilize business data and apps stored in the cloud with the help of an internet connection. So, companies must choose a cloud service or solutions provider that is transparent in its services and cloud platforms. Moreover, the service provider should have proper measures in place that ensure complete security of the data and applications stored on the cloud.
In legacy IT infrastructure, it is simpler and easier to ensure data security and protection as the access is restricted to approved personnel and the business owner. In-house IT teams are allotted for the management of data centers that implement the right strategies and follow data recovery systems.
Are You Ready To Move To The Cloud?
Apparently, cloud infrastructure is the perfect choice for all kinds of businesses. Besides maximizing the ROI, business costs are also optimized significantly. At the same time, it adds more value to the business with improved performance and enhanced efficiency.
If you are still unsure about switching to the cloud infrastructure, get in touch with Tectra’s cloud experts who can guide you through various options and possibilities to find out if the cloud is a good fit for your business or not.