Introduction
With the rapid development of technology today, the web hosting environment is shifting at a higher rate. Cloud computing is the new frontier of business delivery of applications and software. This web solution is quickly overtaking the traditional IT system. However, several organizations already have the traditional IT infrastructure, and they still rely on this web solution for their data management and security. More companies are constantly looking for manageable, cheap, and flexible hosting platforms. The biggest question facing organizations is the choice of the best IT model that suits their business. This essay aims to discuss both cloud-based and traditional IT infrastructure to compare the advantages of the two web solutions.
Traditional IT Infrastructure
The traditional system involves various pieces of hardware, like the desktop of a computer. The hardware’s elements are connected to a network through a remote server (Atieh, 2021). The server is usually installed in the workplace, and it provides stored data and applications to all the employees using the hardware within the same environment. Businesses using the traditional IT infrastructure to support users using their network must obtain additional hardware and advancements to boost their data storage unit and services (Attaran & Woods, 2019). For this reason, most businesses with IT data centers have a team of IT experts in the IT department who maintain and install the hardware, ensuring it does not fail.
Cloud-Based Computing
Cloud computing is an advancement of the traditional IT infrastructure. Instead of using the remote server, it uses a virtual hosting server (Attaran & Woods, 2019). It allows its users to store their data in the cloud and access it rather than accessing it via physical hardware. It is a real-time virtual environment simultaneously hosted by several disparate servers (Ferreira et al., 2020). It saves time and effort in accessing the required information. Cloud computing is designed for both individuals and organizations, provided they have access to the internet. The system’s infrastructure includes software and hardware components.
Comparative Advantages of Cloud-Based Computing Vs. Traditional IT infrastructure
Operating Costs
Cloud computing is a very cost-effective IT solution with low running costs. A cloud-based service can be hosted and have core elements maintained by a third-party service provider. It means that there is no need to hire a big in-house IT team to manage the system’s daily back-office operations. Instead, the host will have built-in continuity and failover systems as they will be in charge of health checks and regular security upgrades (Thota et al., 2017). It reduces the chances of server failure, leading to unnecessary downtime for the firm. In addition to this, cloud-based computing operates so that one only pays for the storage space and processing power that the company or individual uses. It offers a cost-effective advantage, especially for small businesses.
On the other hand, traditional IT infrastructure requires one to buy additional hardware and server space upfront for the business to grow. This is very expensive, primarily if one invests in resources that they do not use in the long run. The value of traditional IT hardware also reduces significantly year on year. It means that any hardware purchased will have a low ROI (return on investment) and need to be replaced in the long run.
Flexibility and Scalability
The virtual space offered by cloud computing has unlimited resources and storage space. In this case, servers can either scale up or down based on the amount of traffic received (Thota et al., 2017). It is also fully customizable, as it gives one the ability to control or install any software fully. Traditional IT infrastructure falls short on its hardware as one can only use what is already available on the premises. In case the business runs out of processing power or storage space, it cannot grow until they buy or rent another server. Similarly, if the firm expands its workforce, it will be required to pay for more software licenses and manually install them on the office hardware.
Durability and Resilience
Another advantage of cloud-based computing is that information stored here is mirrored across several servers. A load balancer manages all the servers in a cloud-based computing system. Therefore, if one server loses its connection or fails, the company does not lose any data or service. Rather, the company’s employees will be switched to work on another server without them even recognizing it.
In contrast, traditional IT systems do not offer this kind of resilience. Although they can, it would require exhaustive investment and configuration across several sites. Traditional IT systems have limited capacity, making them susceptible to being over or under-utilized. It makes it a troublesome network to work with, especially when they are overloaded with complex data processing like backup tasks or large volumes of data. Traditional web solutions are not very resilient since they cannot guarantee consistency in the high level of server performance. It makes them susceptible to downtime, thus hindering productivity in the workplace.
Security
Cloud computing is an external form of storing data and delivering software. The systems are managed by the service provider reducing the pressure on the company and its IT department (Sharma et al., 2021). There exist some security risks with this type of computing system since one’s data can be viewed and accessed by anyone with access to the server and an internet connection. However, security can be achieved with complete transparency on how the service provider protects the firm’s data. In addition to this, the firm can seek transparency on how much control they have to restrict access to its employees regarding confidential information.
In comparison, traditional IT infrastructure requires one to be responsible for the protection of their data. In this case, it is easier to make sure that only approved personnel can access stored data and applications. In this case, in-house IT departments can manage data centers around the clock. However, this will require a lot of money and time to implement the correct security strategies and data recovery systems.
Accessibility
Cloud computing dominates over traditional web solutions in its ability to be accessed anywhere and at any time. Provided the individual has login details and an internet connection, it is easy to access the data they want from any place. This is advantageous, especially in situations where employees need to work from home, such as the COVID-19 pandemic prompted (Sharma et al., 2021). Although it is also possible to offer remote access to employees with a traditional IT infrastructure, it is complex and often presents problems that require additional IT support.
Biblical Integration in Cloud-Based Computing and Traditional IT Infrastructure
Biblical integration means integrating the information of the Bible into the cloud and traditional IT infrastructure. Through the integration, hard copies of the Bible could be found on the computer. However, the integration in the cloud and traditional IT infrastructure will differ in the accessibility of the information. Traditional IT infrastructure, as noted earlier, involves the connection of the hardware to a remote server (Atieh, 2021). Accessing it will require an individual to use the computer that is connected to the server. Although this is an improved way of accessing information from using hardcopies to gain knowledge of the Bible, cloud-based computing is more advanced.
Through the cloud, the integration of the Bible has been made easier. Cloud ensures that all information one could possibly want from the Bible can be accessed anywhere as long as the person has an internet connection. Faith-based organizations consider the traditional IT infrastructure good for security since the data is kept within the premises and can only be accessed in the same environment (Sage Intacct, 2022). However, they have invested majorly in the cloud for its security, such as safeguarding the information even during a disaster. Therefore, integrating the Bible in either the traditional IT infrastructure or the cloud-based computation is done to protect the information.
Conclusion
The choice of an IT model is a critical decision for any business. Every firm requires a safe storage space with the ease of accessing their data while keeping running costs at a minimum. Compared to traditional IT systems, cloud computing is more abstract and up to date-with the evolving technology. It offers a much more advantageous solution for businesses worldwide. Rather than providing accessibility via physical hardware, all networks, data, and servers are hosted in the cloud, away from the business premises. Therefore, this web solution is a perfect match for organizations looking to save costs.
References
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Ferreira, L., Endo, P. T., Rosendo, D., Santos, G. L., Gomes, D., Moreira, A. L. C.,… & Wildeman, M. (2020). Standardization efforts for traditional data center infrastructure management: The big picture. IEEE Engineering Management Review, 48(1), 92-103. Web.
Sage Intacct. (2022). Why cloud computing makes sense for faith-based organizations and ministries. Accounting and Financial Management Solutions. Web.
Sether, A. (2016). Cloud computing benefits. Available at SSRN 2781593. Web.
Thota, C., Manogaran, G., Lopez, D., & Vijayakumar, V. (2017). Big data security framework for distributed cloud data centers. In Cybersecurity breaches and issues surrounding online threat protection (pp. 288-310). IGI global. Web.
Sharma, A., Singh, U. K., Upreti, K., & Yadav, D. S. (2021). An investigation of security risk & taxonomy of Cloud Computing environment. In 2021 2nd International Conference on Smart Electronics and Communication (ICOSEC) (pp. 1056-1063). Web.