As more and more enterprises move most or all of their workloads to cloud platforms, fewer enterprises are using and operating their own data centers, but data center operations remain a concern.
Cloud computing is surpassing data centers with its own advantages and convenience. There are many reasons why enterprise businesses move away from the data center as a sign of IT development. Cloud computing service providers are constantly introducing amazing products and services that make it simple to write code. The experience of getting convenience is wonderful, and the forces driving cloud migration are powerful and will likely get stronger.
But for the undeniable reasons of the transition to cloud computing, there are also some reasons to keep on-premises data centers running. Perhaps enterprises are not here to run all workloads, but to run some critical, targeted tasks.
In the spirit of self-reliant DIY, here are 10 reasons why businesses should keep their data centers running:
(1) Local speed
Cloud computing is a huge asset for businesses spread across the globe. It's perfect for supporting employees who work remotely or work from home. However, if the employees of the enterprise are in the same office area and use servers in the same data center, then there are significant disadvantages to using remote servers.
Servers in on-premises data centers run faster than servers deployed elsewhere. In addition, fewer network hops mean fewer points of failure. If this data is transmitted within a corporate building, a low-traffic internet pipeline can be used. All of these are good reasons to run a local server. If your employees are concentrated in one office location, you need to deploy servers near them.
  (2) Technical trade-offs
Some people prefer to adopt cloud computing technology because cloud computing workers handle all the issues of running servers, buying machines, and installing software. There is no doubt that cloud computing can take some of the burden off businesses.
But sometimes it's more gratifying for businesses to take on all these responsibilities. If it's an unimportant task and the business is satisfied with the cloud provider's services, it may be worth letting the cloud provider do its own thing and adjust its IT strategy around its benefits. However, if a business has its own way of doing things, it may not be worth saving time for moving your business to a cloud platform.
For example, a project at a business uses legacy code from an older version of Python. However, its cloud computing vendor uses the latest version of Ubuntu and uses a newer version of Python. This company can experiment with different versions or install the favorite version of Python on the lab's machine. Buying your own server is simpler than rewriting code.
(3) Neighbors
Cloud computing providers want to keep all customers happy. And a business isn't the only user who will buy the service. And businesses need to get along with their neighbors.
In the most extreme cases, a business's neighbor in the cloud platform can be malicious. Terrific cyberattacks such as Rowhammer make it possible for their neighbors to break into the systems of other users located on the same server. Are they a serious problem? Do active hackers often attack other cloud computing instances? Probably not. However, one of the great advantages of businesses paying for their own data center hardware is that they don't have to worry about this.
(4) Control
When something goes wrong, cloud providers often shirk responsibility with ambiguous claims, claiming that the business violated certain unspecified terms in the terms of service. Its emails are filled with sad stories from developers and businesses that end up receiving emails from their cloud computing service providers prompting them to interrupt their business. Sometimes cloud computing providers interrupt users' business without even sending emails.
The cloud computing business is underperforming and leads to many possibilities for enterprise business. But there's no doubt that running your own data center can enhance control and reduce points of failure.
(5) Power
Cloud computing providers are often accused of uneven service quality. Some people seem to intentionally not provide a service phone number. Some people never seem to respond to emails.
When something goes wrong in a data center, it's easier to get a response from operations. And having the power to manage data centers is one way to get better service.
(6) Cost
Hardware in data centers is often costly. If an enterprise's business relies on hardware performance, relying on cloud computing may make the most sense. However, if the business they work for doesn't need to be too high performance and predictable, they can save a lot of money by adopting servers from a few years ago. Of course, there are potential hidden costs. Older servers are more prone to damage. Can an enterprise's workload handle some unexpected downtime? Can employees service servers? If not demanding, using older hardware often significantly reduces costs.
(7) Stable load
The businesses that do best with cloud computing are those whose computing load is highly variable but often predictable. For example, streaming video services typically do most of their calculations on weekends. Businesses spin up servers for a few hours and then shut them down as soon as people take a break.
However, it may make more sense for businesses to run their own data centers. Paying for cloud computing services around the clock can become expensive, even after discounts. If the primary operation of an enterprise's data is continuous, it is much easier to budget for a cost-competitive on-premises data center.
(8) Real estate costs
The pandemic has affected the commercial real estate industry, with some businesses having extra space and perhaps a few years of leases. Part of the cost of cloud computing is the rent of the building that houses the hardware. If the cost of real estate itself is low or non-existent, then place multiple additional ?? Racks may be more cost-effective.
(9) Cheaper electricity
Electricity costs are a significant part of data center operating costs, and in many cases, electricity prices are higher than hardware costs. Some businesses take advantage of tax breaks, while others find ways to indirectly subsidize local electricity prices, which means that in-house data centers may be cheaper to run.
Around the world, there are places where electricity prices are cheaper. Or with plenty of wind and sunlight, electricity from renewable sources may be cheaper. If businesses have access to cheaper electricity, they can save more on their electricity bills by running their own data centers.
(10) Local talents
Some businesses like to cut their workforce to a minimum. However, other companies value human capital. Some companies like to overhire so that they have available talent when needed, which often happens at unpredictable times. When an emergency strikes, some businesses are ready.
Staffing your own data center can be costly, and it's probably one of the most difficult costs for CIOs to prove. But maybe businesses can allocate their time to the people who manage the data center? Maybe they can effectively assume other roles while running the data center?
If businesses want to access local talent, it may make sense to offer some budget to retain employees.