Cloud computing poses more threats than benefits: debate at the Youth Booth

Subhodeep Kundu opened, stressing the importance of the potential for scalability and the power of the Cloud for increasing collaboration. Another major benefit is the cost saving possible through the sharing of resources. However it is key that regulation and Governance is addressed at the strategic level.

Bernard Sadaqa disagreed entirely, for several reasons:
1. You need high bandwidth
2. Quality of services is slow
3. Uneven quality of services across different geographical regions
4. Security, both personal and public, is a major flaw. The responsibility passes to third party organisations

Subhodeep replied that all these are all temporary issues. Further, that it is only an extension of current practice: the use of data and communication networks.

For Bernard security remains an issue that has to be dealt with before we move to the Cloud. He,for example, has moved much of his work to his own infrastructure – avoiding cloud services like Google Mail. In the end, you can oy trust yourself and the security you can vouch for.

Comments from the floor argued for the preservation of separate but interconnected networks. Others pointed out that there are many different ways to share data such as USBs which avoided the risk of storing data in the cloud and preserved personal ownership of the content.

In the end, the vote was strongly in favour of the motion.