why choose cloud based servers over physical hardware?

Why choose cloud based servers over physical

hardware?Michael Lobb – Solutions Consultant

LKT Consulting

Cost Physical vs Cloud• Cloud looks more expensive• Often that’s artificial• TCO calculators (AWS Economics, Google TCO, etc)• Many things to consider

Scalability• Can increase resources easily• Resources can be provisioned when needed• Less time configuring and ‘sysadmin-ing’• Scale down, not pay for unused resources

Capex vs Opex• Cloud is operational expenditure• Physical means a lease or capital expenditure• Good for Cashflow with nothing upfront• No depreciation

High Availability• Server failures• Route connectivity issues• Copying resources and pushing to another zone is easy• Purchasing hardware is not

Disaster Recovery• Backup locations• Physical backup locations may be latent• Restoring from tape is time consuming

Infrastructure• Industrial grade internet vs office grade internet• Data centers• Failover / multiple redundant links• Support teams

Physical Security• Small offices are not normally very secure• Many levels of security• Industry recognition and standards• Consider what could go wrong if your data was stolen

Help is at Hand• Vast network of help available• Many success stories• Expertise, experience and research• Concentrate on your core business

Keep up with the times• It’s 2016!• Capabilities are improving every day• Technology is leaving physical servers behind• Software is architected for the cloud

Conclusion• Many resources online to help with cost• Consider your circumstances, it’s not a one-size-fits-all environment• Legacy applications may not fit• Get help from the experts

Resources• Amazon Economics: https://aws.amazon.com/economics/

• Google TCO: https://cloud.google.com/pricing/tco/

• Amazon Global Infrastructure: https://aws.amazon.com/about-aws/global-infrastructure/

• Azure Global Infrastructure: https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/regions/

• Cybertrails (Phoenix Based Datacenter): http://www.cybertrails.com/

• Cloudtrek (Queensland based AWS Experts): http://www.cloudtrek.com.au/

• Rackspace Global Infrasructure: https://www.rackspace.com/en-au/about/datacenters

• Example of Physical Server being walked out: http://www.scmagazine.com/stolen-server-exposes-indiana-residents-ids/article/155050/

• Stolen Data example: https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2007/04/5565/ucsf-computer-server-research-subject-information-stolen

• LKT Consulting: http://lktconsult.com/cloud-solutions/