'The cloud' is not just servers. 'Going to the cloud' could also mean locking into a forever sub-contractor - Bert Hubert's writings
a day ago
- The phrase 'going to the cloud' is ambiguous: it can mean renting servers (low lock-in) or integrating proprietary cloud services (high lock-in, becoming an eternal subcontractor).
- Using basic cloud services like servers and databases is relatively safe and interchangeable, but advanced proprietary services tie the operator's intellectual property to the cloud provider, making migration difficult or impossible.
- Benefits of deep cloud integration include faster development, access to specialized services, and reduced need for infrastructure skills, but downsides include loss of ownership, eternal dependency, and loss of migration skills.
- Geopolitical risks arise when cloud providers are based in unstable or adversarial countries, making data sovereignty and long-term reliability concerns.
- Organizations should apply governance to limit dependencies on non-replaceable cloud services, either by restricting the number of such services or ensuring alternatives exist, and senior management must be involved in these decisions.
- A practical approach is to use only widely available, fungible cloud services (e.g., servers, databases) and avoid proprietary services that deeply integrate into the solution.