Cloud computing is uniquely susceptible to the perils of myths that slow adoption, impede innovation and induce fear according to Gartner.
The research firm explains how multiple perspectives and agendas continue to conspire to mystify the cloud and spawning the following misconceptions.
First, cloud is always about money. While prices are dropping, especially for infrastructure as a service (IaaS), not all cloud service pricing is coming down — such as in software as a service. Assuming that the cloud always saves money can lead to career-limiting promises. Saving money may end up one of the benefits, but it should not be taken for granted.
Second, you have to be cloud to be good. Some “cloud washing” is accidental and a result of legitimate confusion. IT organizations are also increasingly calling many things cloud as part of their efforts to gain funding and meet nebulous cloud demands and strategies.
Third, cloud should be used for everything. There are some use cases where there is a great fit, but not all applications and workloads benefit from the cloud. Unless there are cost savings, moving a legacy application that doesn't change is not a good candidate.
Fourth, "The CEO said so" is a cloud strategy. A cloud strategy begins by identifying business goals and mapping potential benefits of the cloud to them, while mitigating the potential drawbacks. Cloud should be thought of as a means to an end, which must be specified first.