Microsoft district GM makes the case for the cloud
16 June 2011 16:04:35
While some IT professionals are still leery of entrusting enterprise-critical data to a remote service, Microsoft north central district general manager Don Leeke recently wrote that cloud computing's numerous upsides outweigh any potential drawbacks.
In a piece for Minneapolis dBusiness News, Leeke stated that one of the most frequently cited downsides of cloud computing - a perceived lack of security - is actually an advantage.
"Security protocols in data centers can be far more robust than in any given business," he wrote. Other experts agree, arguing that a cloud computing service can centralize its defenses to cope with threats.
The flexibility provided by cloud computing, as well, is a significant value add for businesses, according to Leeke. The ability to scale the level of processing power or storage needed at any given moment - and pay only for what is being used - is a valuable one.
It's important to consider the type of cloud installation needed for a given company, experts say, since public and private models offer different strengths and weaknesses.
-McAfee Cloud Security
