When you first hear mention of cloud computing, a pastoral image of an expansive blue sky dotted with puffy clouds might come to mind. As you might have guessed, however, cloud computing has nothing to do with cirrus, stratus, or cumulonimbus clouds. Instead, it is all connected to computers and how software, servers, and storage resources are provided over the Internet.
Cloud computing is a computing model that is tied to virtualized and scalable resources that are provided as a service over the Internet. Software, processing, storage, and support might all be supported by the cloud. Examples of this sort of service are Hotmail, Gmail, and Facebook. With these services users run applications like email and networking applications over the Internet without actually having to purchase software, server space to store information, or provide their own technical support to resolve problems. Instead, users simply access the applications and let the application services take care of the rest.
It is important for businesses to be aware of the services cloud computing offers because:
Supporting applications to aide business functions can be expensive and time consuming. To run essential business applications that are not supported by cloud computing, businesses have to purchase software and hardware, acquire storage units, cooling systems, power support, bandwidth, networks, and the space to house everything. Not to mention the IT personnel to provide technical support. Acquiring all of the necessary components to run business applications in house requires many things and the funds to purchase and support them. With cloud computing services, applications are run through the service cloud. The cloud computing service provides the necessary technical support, the hardware, and the development tools to create what is needed.
Cloud computing services generally make it easy to integrate standard business applications with new business applications that you might have customized or adapted. You do not generally need to worry about what application will be compatible with another; the service takes care of that for you.
It is generally faster and there is lower-risk for deployment and implementation of new business applications. With traditional business applications, companies might involve a number of IT personnel, new software, and hardware, as well as a great deal of time and money to implement. However, business applications supported by cloud computing are often developed much more quickly and efficiently.
There is support readily available when you implement new business applications. IT personnel do not need to be tied up into making sure everyone is connected correctly and the applications are running as expected. Cloud computing services provide the technical support necessary to ensure the applications are up and rolling quickly so you can start using them. The support provided is available 24/7.
Costs applied to application development, implementation, and support can be drastically reduced. Rather than spend money purchasing software, hardware, and developing new applications, you can pay strictly for the cloud computing service, which is generally set up as a subscription fee based on your usage needs.
You can use cloud computing to implement automatic upgrades to applications rather than having your IT team spend a lot of time and resources on upgrades. During the upgrades, customizations you have made to applications are preserved, saving you from additional headaches.
Cloud computing provides businesses with flexible options of maintaining their business applications, developing new applications, and ensuring applications run smoothly and efficiently. Most services are cost effective and allow you to evolve your business’s applications as your needs change. Instead of concentrating on technological development and maintenance of your applications, you can concentrate on doing business.
