Risk of Moving SharePoint to the Cloud

Microsoft offers SharePoint and its Office applications in the cloud.

In 2001, Microsoft introduced the first version of its SharePoint product, designed to support businesses to connect their employees and customers. SharePoint provides the infrastructure for Internet, intranet and extranet sites as well as document management. Traditionally, SharePoint has been deployed in a server-based environment, but the solution can also be hosted in the "cloud" and accessed over the Internet. While SharePoint Online can help you save on the costs of hardware and software, it does include certain limitations that can put your information at risk.

Privacy and Security

When you move your SharePoint data to the cloud you lose much of your control over it. According to Metalogix, a content life cycle management company, you leave your confidential data open to more points of attack from hackers and other Internet predators when you use a cloud solution like SharePoint. Although you can encrypt your data before you send it over the Internet, you are essentially removing any control your IT staff normally maintains with a server-based solution.

Data Ownership

Your SharePoint cloud storage may be based in another state -- or even in another country -- than your own. A November 2010 article from "SharePoint Pro" magazine points out that this kind of arrangement can leave you at risk for certain legal complications. Various states and countries may have different laws that govern data usage and it is critical to know exactly what these laws encompass. Read the fine print of any contact closely to determine who owns your data and who can access it.

Performance

To access your SharePoint data in the cloud, you must have an Internet connection available at all times. You will want to ensure that your Internet service is fast and reliable for your end users. In the case of a service outage, you risk losing your connection and losing your data permanently. You can create a back up of your information, but will need to purchase additional bandwidth, which can represent a significant investment.

Customization

According to a March 2011 article in "MSDN Magazine," SharePoint's cloud solution is more limited in terms of development than the server-based version. For example, you cannot implement solutions for your entire SharePoint farm, only your site and Web collections. In addition, you may not be able to install and run third-party applications as they may not be compatible. While you can use a sandbox to test your SharePoint cloud environment, you cannot fully test it in a real-world environment before moving it to the cloud.

References

• SharePoint Pro Mag: SharePoint 2010 in the Cloud: 17 Risks to Consider
• Metalogix: Leveraging Cloud Storage with SharePoint and StoragePoint
• CIO: SharePoint 2010: To Cloud or Not to Cloud?
• Microsoft: MSDN Magazine: SharePoint Online: Cloud-Based Collaboration with SharePoint Online
• Microsoft: SharePoint Online
• Microsoft: MSDN: 7 Years of SharePoint: A History Lesson