An increasing number of companies are ditching their traditional databases and servers in favor of the cloud. This is especially true when it comes to mobile cloud hosting. Pros and cons exist for just about every hosting solution, but this is one area where the advantages far outweigh the potential disadvantages. The many benefits are why cloud hosting solutions are gaining popularity at such a rapid pace.
If you’re considering mobile cloud hosting for your mobile app or enterprise platform, what can you expect? What are the drawbacks and advantages of cloud hosting for mobile applications?
A Look at Mobile Cloud Hosting Pros
The list of mobile app cloud hosting pros is a big reason why companies are so keen to leverage this technology. Here’s a look at some of the many benefits of cloud hosting for apps and even enterprise software platforms such as CRMs and ERPs.
Scalability: Cloud hosting is extremely scalable, so your cloud hosting account can grow or shrink according to your precise needs. This is ideal for growing companies and businesses that see a great deal of seasonal fluctuation in their needs.
Affordability: Since the cloud is so scalable, companies pay for what they use—no more, no less. This allows you to avoid a scenario where you buy a server or server space, but never use it to capacity.
Hardware-Free: Buying server hardware is the logical solution for the most popular apps and many large enterprises, but it comes with a downside. Hardware rapidly becomes obsolete, so you’re tasked with replacing that hardware every few years in an effort to maintain optimal speeds and performance. What’s more, hardware also requires maintenance. But with cloud app hosting, there’s no need for server hardware, maintenance or a data center. The absence of these factors translates into dramatically lower costs over time, with improved performance.
Improved Speed: Each case is unique, but if your cloud hosting company is using the most modern technologies, then transfer speeds can rival even the fastest on-site hosting solutions. What’s more, cloud hosting typically offers far more robust backup capabilities. Some even offer real-time backup, which is ideal for mobile apps and software platforms that involve high volumes of data transfer.
Disaster Recovery: With real-time backup becoming increasingly common amongst cloud hosting companies, overall reliability and disaster recovery is greatly enhanced. Companies can rest assured that their app’s data is safe thanks to the many redundancies that are in place. It’s even possible to connect multiple servers to your cloud infrastructure. They’ll serve as failsafe measures that will protect your app and its data in the event of a catastrophic event. However, most modern cloud platforms do feature multiple redundancies that are sufficient for most apps and enterprise operations.
Examining the Mobile Cloud Hosting Cons
Mobile app cloud hosting cons are relatively few and most are of minimal concern to the average business. Even so, it’s prudent to perform due diligence to ensure that a cloud hosting solution meets your needs, without any so-called “deal breakers.” Let’s look at some potential downsides of cloud hosting, whether it’s for a mobile app, your company’s CRM or an enterprise platform.
Security: Cloud hosting means your data is accessible from virtually any device with an internet connection, but this accessibility can pose significant security threats. Fortunately, encryption and cloud security technologies have come a long way in recent years, so a seasoned team of mobile security experts can implement measures that will ease the worries of even the most security-conscious company or agency.
Data Management: Cloud-based platforms can, in theory, provide limitless amounts of computing power and data storage space. This is good news for mobile apps and other mobile platforms that generate high volumes of data. But managing this data can be a tremendous challenge. For this reason, it’s vital that you implement a strong data management strategy from day one, leveraging tools such as data warehouses, data lakes, and data visualization tools in an ideal manner. In fact, modern data analysis tools such as Predictive Analytics engines and Machine Learning platforms can process huge volumes of data, all while spotting trends and deriving actionable insights with ease.
Bandwidth Limitations: Many cloud hosting providers implement bandwidth limitations designed to prevent clients from over-burdening the system with excessively large data flows. So you’ll want to be sure you find a cloud hosting company that can meet your needs, without throttling access or charging excessive fees. Fortunately, mobile cloud service providers are often willing to develop custom solutions, particularly for larger clients.
Mobile cloud hosting is becoming viable for organizations and companies in virtually every sector—even government agencies and the financial sector. These companies were hesitant to adopt cloud technologies due to potential security risks. But improved encryption, better security and a more robust cloud environment mean that even these holdout industries are beginning to harness the power of the cloud.
As with any major business decision, it’s critical that company leaders examine the advantages and possible drawbacks before proceeding with cloud integrations. Mobile cloud hosting pros and cons are fairly clear-cut and in many cases, the answer is clear: the cloud is the way to go. But others may require some guidance and expertise. This is where an experienced company such as 7T can help.
The experts at 7T have many years of experience in the fields of mobile app development and custom software development. We also specialize in the many technologies surrounding these development projects, including cloud integrations, data governance, mobile security, app testing and UI/UX design.
7T is based in Dallas, with regional offices situated in Houston, Austin, and Chicago. We work with clients across the U.S. and abroad. So if you’re seeking to build or refine a custom software platform or mobile app, simply reach out to the team at 7T today.
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