Cloud Computing: Advantages & Disadvantages In Film & Television.
At present, more than 73% of companies run at least one application in the cloud. You’d be unsurprised to learn than in a global entertainment industry estimated to reach $652.5 billion by 2027, cloud computer among other technological developments are rapidly advancing how creative organisations function internally and operate externally.
Those who are have perhaps heard the phrase ‘In The Cloud’, but are unsure of what it truly means; it is a computing term refers to both storing and accessing data over the internet. It’s important to understand that there is a differentiation between ‘cloud computing and cloud storage’. Cloud storage is essentially a data centre that allows users to store data on the internet, for example video or sound files — they are enabled by a remote server and can be retrieved from multiple devices any time a user needs them. Examples are iCloud and Dropbox.
Cloud computing however is closely linked with cloud storage in that users have to move data to cloud before they can use cloud computing systems, but cloud computing is predominantly used in the work environment, to complete specified projects. An example of cloud computing is Software as a Service (SaaS), where users can input data on software and the data is transformed via the software interface, instead of installing and maintaining software, you simply access it via the Internet. It is highly favoured by the several of the major players in entertainment such as Disney, Netflix and Youtube simply because it is believed to bring better collaboration, transparency, efficiency, and innovation in its solutions. It also reduces barriers to communication and gives you access to a wider audience, including customers and contractors.
The main advantages cloud computing bring to the industry are as follows:
Saving Costs: Cost saving is a key trait for entertainment leaders to consider when analysing the benefits of cloud computing, which are essentially data centres available to many users over the internet. This means film and television companies do not have to spend large portions of their development budget on purchasing and installing physical hardware (as they typically would). This also means the cost of training teams on how to utilise and maintain the hardware is limited. This also offers a competitive edge over competitors accessing it anytime without spending time or money.
Excellent Performance: The cloud offers high streaming performance with minimal delays and downtime, which can be crucial for media entertainment companies in terms of user experience. Viewing audiences are used to speed and efficiency when it comes to their favourite content, any pro-longed delay could end up with fans leaving the platform and not coming back. This intern impacts the value of the company in the eyes of investors and advertisers.To add to this cloud computing generally offers speedy deployment and can be fully functional in a short space of time.
The main disadvantages cloud computing bring to the industry are as follows:
Security threats: As with most technology and the online world in general, users have to be cautious of security risk. Before administering the technology in your company executives should be conscious of the fact that you will be sharing your company’s media files, customer’s personal data and other sensitive information with a third party cloud computing provider. Skilled hackers could gain access to this information, cloud encryption does mean that risks can be mitigated and limited.
Technical Issues: Cloud technology is prone to technical issues simply because…it’s technology. Even the top cloud service providers in the world can face difficulties with technical issues, downtimes and outages despite optimising well and delivering ongoing service maintenance. To add to this, most cloud infrastructures are entirely owned and managed by the service provider which means that there will be various degrees of control for your entertainment company. Of course this can be overcome by considering the service provider’s basic level of support in the first instance and understanding their responsibilities in comparison to theirs.
Conclusion:
Film and television companies will most likely generates high volumes of data and are of course accountable for the quality of service they provider for all stakeholders. I would argue that the move to cloud computing invites increased scalability and flexibility due its ability to integrate continuity experientially, across multiple geographic locations. A necessity that can help production companies indirectly enhance live streaming, distribution, and the marketing of their brand.
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