In an age when digital file-sharing has become the norm among businesses and individuals alike, it's easy to get swept away with catchphrases like "cloud computing" and "file hosting." These buzzwords often get people excited about products they don't fully understand. Many people assume that file hosting and cloud services are interchangeable; what they don't realize is that each comes with a set of pros and cons, and each differs in a few key ways. The following guide outlines the benefits and drawbacks to file hosting services and cloud storage networks.

File Hosting vs. "The Cloud"

For starters, file hosting services provide a broad range of services to businesses, including building an intranet and managing an overall internal network. These services have existed for decades, ever since businesses turned to the Internet for storage solutions and project management. Conversely, cloud computing is a relatively new phenomenon that many traditional hosting services claim as their own. In reality, cloud computing has an even broader scope, meaning that it connects with all aspects of a company’s software and computing to provide file sharing across a huge spectrum. If people think of a cloud as a literal cloud or nebulous entity, it will help them understand the difference. File hosting is more localized and focused on an internal basis of getting everyone in an office complex on the same page. Cloud computing goes beyond this.

File-Sharing: Pros & Cons

Pros: File sharing allows businesses the option of a personalized team of experts handling a specific network. For smaller companies, file sharing makes a more practical and fiscal sense in that they can choose a platform that works for them without paying for unnecessary extra services. Because file sharing is an industry-standard among IT personnel, companies won’t have as much trouble fixing problems when they arise.

Cons: File sharing is limited in its scope, which is why cloud computing came about in the first place. Businesses may think they’re getting a comprehensive sharing solution to discover that the hosting site doesn’t work between servers and software. For example, Microsoft Outlook often has trouble connecting with Mozilla Firefox, so companies that utilize these services may have issues.

Cloud Computing: Pros & Cons

Pros: Cloud computing works across all platforms because it is not a locally stored piece of technology but rather an intangible network of shared information. While it shares some characteristics with its file-sharing predecessor, cloud computing takes the information to the next level by offering practically unlimited space depending on the services a business chooses.

Cons: Cloud computing offers somewhat of a risk due to its nature of being intangible. Many businesses who choose to utilize a cloud computing site take a chance by hosting their entire network on something that is remotely monitored. Instead of hiring IT professionals, some companies may rely solely on their cloud computing company to handle their technical snafus, only to discover that they need a real person with working knowledge to solve some issues.

Some argue that the major con for both file sharing and cloud computing is the shift away from IT staff entirely, which causes a company to spend more money over time fixing problems that a trained technician should handle. Still, cloud computing and file sharing provide many benefits to businesses, large and small, that want to get more work done easily and efficiently. With customer integration and customizable plans, some businesses would do well to choose either type of remote network capabilities to save money on costly project management software packages. As technology continues to develop, more cloud-based computing will inevitably supersede traditional means.

Sources:

• www.itnewsafrica.com
• www.pcworld.com
• www.smallnetbuilder.com