What exactly does that mean?
‘Cloud’ means that software or data does not run solely on your own device or server, but is provided via external infrastructure. This infrastructure is usually managed by a supplier or hosting provider and is accessible via the internet.
Why do organisations choose this?
The cloud can be attractive due to rapid deployment, scalability and remote management. You do not need to host everything yourself and can often get started more quickly. This is practical for many applications, particularly when flexibility is more important than full local control.
What factors need to be taken into account?
The cloud also raises questions about privacy, data location, recurring costs, vendor lock-in and availability. As soon as processes become truly dependent on external platforms, these choices become more strategic than they appear at first glance.
Cloud or on-premises?
This is not usually a black-and-white choice. Some functions can run perfectly well in the cloud, whilst others must remain on-premises for reasons of continuity, security or cost control. In practice, a hybrid approach often emerges, with the most logical solution chosen on a process-by-process basis.
What do you need to remember?
The cloud is not inherently good or bad. It is a way of organising infrastructure. The right choice depends on your data, your processes, your risk profile and how much control you wish to retain over the underlying technical layer.
From concept to practice
How AITJE applies this
In our consultancy and analysis, we compare in-house hardware, servers and external services based on actual usage. The cloud can offer capacity and ease of management; on-premises processing can provide different options for control and continuity. We map out costs, data flows and dependencies. The outcome may be a combination, with the environment used clearly defined for each task.
View advice and analysisFrom explanation to application
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