{"id":11122,"date":"2023-10-10T08:32:33","date_gmt":"2023-10-10T06:32:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.der-digitalisierungsberater.de\/enter-at-your-own-risk-the-dangers-of-cloud-solutions\/"},"modified":"2026-05-04T11:34:18","modified_gmt":"2026-05-04T09:34:18","slug":"enter-at-your-own-risk-the-dangers-of-cloud-solutions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.der-digitalisierungsberater.de\/en\/enter-at-your-own-risk-the-dangers-of-cloud-solutions\/","title":{"rendered":"enter at your own risk – The Dangers of Cloud Solutions"},"content":{"rendered":"

Or: Dependency is fun! (just not for the dependent) <\/strong><\/p>\n

It is depicted in the most vibrant colors. You are supposed to feel like you’re on “cloud nine”<\/strong><\/em>. If, yes, if you subscribe to a cloud solution.
\nIt is supposed to be simpler, more secure, more cost-effective, and simply more future-proof. <\/p>\n

But wait, where are the pitfalls one can stumble into? Are there any, or has sales once again only spouted the “truth and nothing but the truth”<\/strong><\/em>? <\/p>\n

Could it be that for some, the big awakening only comes when things go seriously wrong? Let’s take a look. <\/p>\n

I dedicate this blog post to a topic that remains highly explosive. At least from my perspective.
\nA topic that many already consider “the new normal”<\/strong><\/em> and for which, for many, there are “no alternatives”<\/strong><\/em>.
\nBut is that really the case, or if one uses it, shouldn’t one incorporate some “safeguards”? <\/p>\n

It’s going to be exciting again!<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

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Floating on the Software Cloud. Falling will hurt! <\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

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I know, as a digitalization consultant, one should always approach these modern technologies openly and even promote them in the interest of the user (company). But those who know me are aware that as a constant “questioner,”<\/strong><\/em> I keep a critical eye on all relevant and even seemingly less relevant topics in the interest of my clients. And usually, something comes out that many would rather not have seen. <\/p>\n

But let me say this upfront: For “almost”<\/strong><\/em> all critical questions, there are also solutions. At least if the providers want them. (which, unfortunately, is not always the case) <\/p>\n

But first, a look back. Where does the cloud actually come from? <\/strong><\/p>\n

Everyone associates the cloud with the internet, software that runs on the internet, i.e., in a web browser.
\nThere are different types of cloud solutions, such as the Public Cloud<\/strong> or a Private Cloud<\/strong>, etc.
\nHowever, that is not our topic.
\nWhat connects all these solutions is that you no longer install significant hardware in your own premises, and everything runs centrally.
\nIdeally, several clients\/companies are “processed”<\/strong><\/em> on one large system. <\/p>\n

And when is the propagated cloud actually just a “fake”<\/em> cloud?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Not all clouds are created equal. Some simply call it that because it sounds more modern. As soon as one speaks of, for example, VM-Ware or virtualization, it is nothing other than the long-known “data center.”<\/strong><\/em> <\/p>\n

If you “virtualize”<\/strong><\/em> and use a “fat client”<\/strong> (not a web browser), then it is not a true cloud solution in the traditional sense.
\n<\/strong><\/em>So, be careful not to be fooled. That is already the first pitfall. <\/p>\n

Americans would say in this case “lipstick on a pig”<\/strong><\/em> or “new paint on an old car,”<\/strong><\/em> because the technology must also fit.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

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Well-tolerated or long-term “toxic”? The software in the cloud <\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

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The Top Risks of the Cloud<\/strong><\/p>\n

Top I – How do I get my data back?<\/strong>
\nI once wrote a specialist article on the topic “What happens to the data after the divorce, with the cloud.”<\/strong><\/em> (Link here)<\/a>
\nBecause almost everyone seems to forget one thing. A “good” time can sometimes come to an end. And then what? <\/p>\n

How do I really get my data back?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Getting a complete copy of the database<\/strong> is rather unlikely, because either other customers are also in the same database (then I can hardly “get” the data) or the database is so complex to manage and has such high requirements that I simply don’t want it.
\nFurthermore, few providers are willing to release their complete database structure externally. Especially since you are no longer a customer then.
\nWe can pretty much rule out this option. <\/p>\n

A database export in ASCII or Excel,<\/strong> corresponding to the individual files in the database and documented as such (links, dependencies, key fields, data dictionary, etc.), with which I can then easily start an import into a new system.
\nThe problem: I have not yet seen any system that provides this in this environment and with the corresponding documentation.<\/p>\n

2 Case Studies on “Getting Data Back”<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Case I<\/strong>
\nAs a test user of the world market leader in CRM<\/strong> applications (who might that be?), I allowed myself to have a data backup made.
\nIt arrived. Via email (yes, you read that correctly) in Excel files (which would still be acceptable), but with partly cryptic field names and without any information on how the tables were linked to each other. (Example: order header data, order item data, order footer data).
\nI was “forced”<\/strong> to deduce what was what based on the data content. In the case of the small amount of data, this was still possible. Imagine if I had used the system extensively and had a ton of data in it. The ultimate disaster!<\/strong><\/p>\n

The absolute worst, however, was that ALL my file attachments were simply delivered in a “ZIP file.” Without any information about which record they were previously attached to! <\/p>\n

Clarification:<\/strong> This was several years ago, but it still begs the question for everyone whether this is the format in which one receives their data from a provider?<\/p>\n

Case II
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\nDuring my consultation, the “market leader”<\/strong><\/em> for procurement solutions, docked to the “world market leader”<\/strong><\/em> for ERP solutions, was asked how and in what format we could get the data back in case of a “divorce.”<\/strong><\/em>
\nThe answer was clear and easy to understand: “NO idea.”<\/strong><\/em> Even after repeated inquiries, no one in the company could answer this question. Apparently, we were the first to ask it. <\/p>\n

Regrettably, the customer (a multinational billion-dollar corporation) still signed the contract. Well, let’s hope it worked out if needed.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

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Always be the first to receive the latest news, interviews, and expert articles? <\/strong><\/p>\n

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