In the business world today we see cloud computing becoming more of a dominant force within most industries. However one area that the cloud is not being utilized for in organizations is a very improtant function, network management. Even though we have changed the way we do everything as a result of the cloud a lot of business still use on premise applications to manage their network.

This is something that needs to change, as cloud network management has never been safer and more affordable. If your organization has yet to adopt cloud based network management, you’re likely missing out on some killer functionality that on premise management products just can’t provide.

Here’s a look as to why you should choose a cloud based network management service over an on premise system. 

1. Security

Security is generally one of the first topics of discussion when it comes to anything cloud based. We have all heard horror stories in the past of networks getting hacked or personal information being leaked onto the internet.The reality is that large cloud providers like Amazon (AWS) and Microsoft (Azure) spend a tremendous amount of time, energy and money to ensure that their datacenters are as secure as possible. 

They know that a large breach could be a huge setback for their business, so security is a priority for them. As a general rule, I think that most cloud datacenters are more secure than a typical corporate datacenter. Richard Clark the former National Coordinator for Security, Infrastructure Protection, and Counter-terrorism for the United States famously quoted “if you spend more on coffee than on IT security, you will be hacked. What’s more, you deserve to be hacked”.

2. All-round access

Another reason to embrace the cloud is the way it makes data, apps, and services available from anywhere with an Internet connection. That’s why we now take it as a given that we can open files, read email, or even record your favorite tv show while you’re sitting by the pool. If you’re not accessing your network management console with the same ease, you’re missing out. Cloud-based management means you can watch and configure devices anywhere on your network, no matter where you happen to be physically. 

3. Minimal maintenance

Of all the reasons to move applications to the cloud, one of the most overlooked –but in my opinion important- is the reduction of maintenance expense. Maintenance comes in many forms, it can be the downtime required to upgrade a system, or in staff training on new versions, or even pure physical maintenance of equipment, racks, cables etc. While cloud based applications do not eliminate this expense entirely, the best industry estimates show a maintenance reduction of over 40%.

4. No Capital Expenditure

Because most hosted applications are sold as Software as a Service or SaaS, provider-based network management products usually require no up-front expenses. This may enable a quicker return on investment and thus eliminate any roadblocks that can occur when you're attempting to get a large capital expenditure approved.

5. Ease of deployment 

Because SaaS exists in the cloud, it eradicates the necessity of installing software on a system and ensures that it is configured properly. The management of SaaS is naturally handled through simple interfaces that allows the user to configure and provision the service as required. As more establishments move their formerly in-house systems into the cloud, they begin to realize the benefits of such a deployment and then typically start to identify other areas where they can move additional services to a cloud-based approach. Network Management is simply another application whose “cloud-time” has come.