CLOUD 20 01732 759725 Mark Grindey makes the case for implementing an on-premises private cloud However, the cloud has hidden costs. The hyperscalers’ financial calculators look simple, but buried in the small print is the information that every additional slice of service and support, including security, costs more. Storage cost models are also disturbingly opaque: the promised price per terabyte looks great until a company discovers it is being charged not just to store data but also to delete it, or that while uploads are free there is a charge for every object downloaded. The monthly bill can be two or three times the expected amount. Add in limitations on bandwidth, the additional charges for cpu or RAM, plus the fact that if the business is using VMWare, it will be paying again based on those same usage factors, and it is little wonder that the cost of the public cloud can far exceed expectations. New Model Gaining Ground So how can businesses achieve the required level of security at an affordable cost, without having to revert to large and unaffordable capital expenditure? The answer is to bring equipment back onpremises – while retaining the benefits of cloud technology, including remote support and flexible finance and usage models. A growing number of Service Integration and Management (SIAM) companies are offering a ‘back to the future’ on-premises model, with added flexibility. Servers can be spun up onpremises as required, with costs linked to usage; support is included; and, by moving back onpremises, security risks are allayed. Businesses concerned by the need to rebuild a server room or employ dedicated tech experts need not worry. The latest generation of servers can be run at higher temperatures, so there is no need to recreate the air-conditioned server rooms of the past – servers can simply be located within existing network rooms or offices. Or, if the business lacks space, the entire system can be securely co-located within a dedicated and locked rack. Tech support is included as part of the service, with providers leveraging the remote, open source technology used to deliver cloud services to ensure on-premises systems are working effectively. Future Proofing Bringing this vital infrastructure back into the business is not just cheaper but inherently more secure. An on-premises set up takes the opposite approach to the open, public access model required by large hyperscalers, locking everything down first and opening up access as required, using highly secure tunnels to safeguard the business. Furthermore, because the entire private cloud set-up is owned by the company, required security changes can be made immediately. There is none of the interconnected public cloud risk that has led to extended attacks across key public services. The ability to regain this level of control is enticing many more organisations to bring data and systems back in-house, especially those that have concerns about data security and latency issues associated with the additional layers of security hyperscalers are having to implement or the extent to which reliance on the public cloud adds operational risk, with loss of internet connectivity leaving an entire organisation unable to operate. The public cloud clearly has its place. It is an ideal location for hosting a web site or public facing apps. But with the realisation that every IT deployment is cheaper and more secure with an on-premises set up attitudes are changing. It’s time to regain control, go back to the future and implement an onpremises private cloud. https://www.zeuscloud.co.uk/ Organisations of every size have bought into the idea that a shared IT infrastructure offers better value for money than a dedicated, on-premises set up, helping to create a UK cloud computing market worth £7.5 billion. While the market's domination by just three vendors is being investigated by the CMA, following concerns raised by Ofcom about exit fees, lack of flexibility and the structure of financial agreements, the biggest problem is that the cost of public cloud services is typically double that of an equivalent on-premises set up. Every single organisation using one of the big three hyperscalers could be paying twice as much as they should for essential IT systems, including storage and application hosting. Even worse, they are paying for a service that is less secure and typically less well supported than an on-premises alternative. By default, the dominance of the big three hyperscalers makes them a prime target for hackers. Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks on these organisations happen almost continuously, creating a huge security vulnerability. Such attacks can not only prevent access to key services, causing serious operational issues, but also expose vulnerabilities that can be used to access critical data. So why are organisations still paying through the nose for a service that is less secure and less flexible than on-premises alternatives? Hidden Costs At first glance, the cloud model is attractive, especially the shift from capex to opex. The idea that costs are known, with a set monthly subscription, is compelling, as is the option to scale up and down in line with demand, particularly when compared to the challenges of spinning up new servers within traditional on-premises models. Back to the future Mark Grindey is CEO of Service Integration and Management (SIAM) company Zeus Cloud UKBSS.
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