The practical comparison.
OWNING EQUIPMENT
A capital purchase Fixed capacity You maintain it You replace it It works without a connection
USING CLOUD SERVICES
An ongoing cost Capacity adjustable Someone else maintains the hardware No replacement cycle Requires a working connection
WHAT CHANGES FINANCIALLY
A large occasional purchase becomes a continuous cost.
Easier to start, harder to stop.
WHAT CHANGES OPERATIONALLY
You no longer handle hardware failure You do handle configuration, access and cost
WHAT DOES NOT CHANGE
Responsibility for your data Responsibility for your accounts Responsibility for backups
THAT LAST POINT
Being in the cloud is not being backed up.
WHAT PEOPLE MISJUDGE
That moving to the cloud removes work.
It changes the work.
WHAT TO ASSESS
Which model suits each thing you do, rather than choosing one for everything.
