What is one of the primary drawbacks of cloud computing?

The primary drawback of cloud computing highlighted in this question is the potential for data security issues. In cloud environments, sensitive data is often stored off-site and accessed over the internet, which introduces various security challenges. These can include threats such as unauthorized access, data breaches, and vulnerabilities associated with data transmission. Organizations must rely on cloud service providers to implement robust security measures and protocols to protect their data.

This concern is compounded by the shared nature of cloud resources, where multiple tenants might be using the same physical infrastructure. This multi-tenancy can create potential risks if proper isolation and security measures are not in place. Additionally, organizations may have less control over data security practices compared to managing their own on-premises infrastructure. This makes it crucial for businesses to carefully assess the security capabilities of their chosen cloud provider and to implement their own security measures, such as encryption and access controls.

The other aspects of cloud computing mentioned in the options do not typically characterize its drawbacks. For instance, cloud services often lead to reduced maintenance costs as the provider manages much of the infrastructure. Guaranteed uptime is generally a feature advertised by cloud services, reflecting their promise of high availability, and full control over infrastructure is typically more associated with on-premises solutions rather than cloud environments.