Terabytes Missing From The National Archives: Would the Cloud Be Safer?

Written by Steven Walling / July 6, 2009 7:00 AM /Read Write Web

A discussion about the safety of data in the cloud.

http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/terabytes_missing_from_the_national_archives.php

Phoebe Owens

Criticism and Disadvantages of Cloud Computing

Since cloud computing does not allow users to physically possess the storage of their data (the exception being the possibility that data can be backed up to a user-owned storage device, such as a USB flash drive or hard disk) it does leave responsibility of data storage and control in the hands of the provider.

Cloud computing has been criticized for limiting the freedom of users and making them dependent on the cloud computing provider, and some critics have alleged that is only possible to use applications or services that the provider is willing to offer. Thus, The London Times compares cloud computing to centralized systems of the 1950s and 60s, by which users connected through "dumb" terminals to mainframe computers. Typically, users had no freedom to install new applications and needed approval from administrators to achieve certain tasks. Overall, it limited both freedom and creativity. The Times argues that cloud computing is a regression to that time.^[31]

Similarly, Richard Stallman, founder of the Free Software Foundation, believes that cloud computing endangers liberties because users sacrifice their privacy and personal data to a third party. He stated that cloud computing is "simply a trap aimed at forcing more people to buy into locked, proprietary systems that would cost them more and more over time."^[32]

Further to Richards' observation, It would be a challenge for hosting/deploying intranet and access restricted (for Govt., defense, institutional, etc) sites and their maintenance. Commercial sites using tools such as web analytics may not be able to capture right data for their business planning etc.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloud_computing#Criticism_and_Disadvantages_of_Cloud_Computing