Does the Concept of Cloud Computing “Go Over Your Head?”

What You Need to Know About Cloud Computing and The Benefits it Provides

Cloud computing provides users with computing resources, applications and services that include infrastructure and operating systems.  You access cloud services through an Internet connection, so cloud computing is often referred to as “off-premise” or “on-demand” computing.

Cloud computing began with the hosting industry’s need for computing and software services that were:

• Managed internally,
• Readily accessed,
• Easy to use, and
• Economical.

Cloud computing is offered by most service providers in the form of shared hosting, VPS- (virtual private server) hosting and software-as-a-service (SaaS) such as SharePoint and Microsoft Hosted Exchange.

Large-Scale Operations

Cloud computing is a large-scale operation that makes extensive automation absolutely necessary. Computing clouds exist on thousands of servers all over the world, running tens of thousands of application instances; and they’re accessed by millions of users, all at once.

Cloud computing has changed the way applications are managed, delivered and integrated. Cloud computing makes it possible for a large number of users to access services and applications within a single cloud.

Computing clouds must have designated administration and be capable of self-service to provide secure access to computing resources for all users, including service providers, cloud operators, IT administrators, application users and resellers.

The Benefits of Cloud Computing

Cloud computing is extremely efficient and offers a wide variety of opportunities to increase your company’s revenue. It also offers new channels for independent software vendors (ISVs), telephone companies and value-added-resellers (VARS) (in the form of SaaS). Customers can adjust resources based on their needs with no long-term commitment and enjoy on-demand services where they only pay for what they use, reducing the cost of running technology infrastructures.

Cloud computing improves accessibility as well, because you have access anytime and anywhere in the world.  You can monitor projects more effectively, so your business can stay within budget and complete everything on time.

It also reduces your capital costs:

• You won’t need to continue spending a lot of money on hardware, software and licensing fees.
• Staff training won’t be necessary, or only very minimal training for hardware and software issues.
• Your payroll expenses will decrease because you won’t need as many employees; more work can be done with fewer people.

Types of Clouds

1. SaaS (Software as a Service)
   SaaS solutions are very common in sales, human resources and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) because they provide a given application to multiple tenants. This is typically done using a web browser.
2. Web-Based Cloud Services
   Rather than using fully developed applications, web-based cloud services let you maneuver specific web service functionalities, such as including an application program interface (API) for Google Maps.
3. Platform as a Service
   This is basically an alternative to SaaS. You run your own applications on the cloud provider’s infrastructure.
4. Utility Cloud Services
   These are server options and virtual storage that you can access on demand, it even allows you to create a virtual data center.
5. Managed Services
   The cloud provider utilizes the application as opposed to the user, this might include application monitoring services and anti-spam services.
6. Service Commerce
   This type of cloud is a mix of managed services and SaaS, providing a hub of services the user can interact with; commonly including travel ordering, expense tracking or virtual assistant services.

This is only the beginning in cloud computing technology, and new ideas are continually being brought to market. Cloud computing has rapidly become a valuable and even necessary option for businesses.

As your trusted IT Service team we can help with your questions about cloud computing.  Give us a call today and speak with our outsourced IT service professionals about the cloud.  We are here to help with all your technical support and technology questions.