What Is Cloud Computing?

There’s a lot of debate about when cloud computing was first invented and by who, but the cloud as we know it today was created in 2006 and has revolutionised modern IT. So, what is cloud computing?

Over the last decade or so, cloud computing has evolved significantly while becoming a vital resource for individuals and businesses in need of innovative IT solutions. In this post, we’ll take a closer look at the various cloud computing models and the benefits they offer.

What Are the Benefits of Cloud Computing?

Cloud computing has not only been a revolution because of the complexity and efficiency of the technology but also because of the vast benefits it provides. Moving to the cloud is a significant change when compared to the way businesses previously looked at IT resources. The following are ways that you could benefit by moving to the cloud:

Cut Costs

Cloud computing eliminates the cost of purchasing software, hardware and the creation and running of on-site data centres. The expense of servers, round-the-clock power and cooling as well as the need for in-house IT employees quickly adds up to quite a hefty sum. 

Performance

Cloud computing services run on a global network of secure data centres. These centres are regularly upgraded and enhanced with the most up-to-date hardware to ensure utmost speed and efficiency. When compared to single corporate data centres, this includes benefits such as reduced network latency and increased scalability.

Productivity 

On-site data centres tend to require lots of "racking and stacking". Setting up hardware, patching software and a range of other IT management tasks will demand a lot of time and effort. Cloud computing provides you with the means to reduce and remove many of these tasks — and in the process, increase productivity by giving your team more time to focus on their work.

Security

Thanks to the advances in modern technology, cloud computing offers a more secure environment for your applications, data and infrastructure. It not only

protects you from potential cyber threats but also gives you the peace of mind knowing your business's tech is protected.

Reliability

To ensure your business is as efficient and productive at all times, it's essential for your technology is reliable. With cloud computing, you have a more straightforward and cost-effective way to backup data and create disaster recovery plans. This is because you can mirror data at several redundant sites on your cloud provider's network.

Speed

Most cloud computing services are on-demand and self-service, meaning a wide range of resources can be provisioned and utilised at a moments notice. As a business owner, this provides you with a huge amount of flexibility and removes the pressure of capacity planning — all it takes is a few clicks of your mouse.

Communication

Joining the cloud keeps your staff connected, wherever they are. Apps like Microsoft Teams can be harnessed to collaborate and communicate

Types of Cloud Services

When you hear the term “cloud computing” it’s not uncommon to assume it’s one service universally used for a range of purposes. In reality, cloud computing is an umbrella term covering several different cloud services or “models”. The three models typically provided by cloud providers are as follows:

SaaS

Software as a service (SaaS) is an on-demand way to deliver software applications over the internet, usually on a subscription basis. With this service, cloud providers host and manage the applications and infrastructure while handling any required maintenance — such as security patching and software upgrades. Users can connect to the application via the internet on their phone, tablet or computer.

PaaS

Platform as a Service (PaaS) cloud computing services supply on-demand environments to develop, test, deliver and manage software applications. PaaS makes it easier for developers to create web or mobile apps quickly, without the hassle of setting up and managing underlying infrastructures of servers, storage, databases and networks essential for development.

IaaS

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) is the most basic category of cloud computing services. IaaS cloud models allow you to rent IT infrastructure — servers and virtual machines (VMs), networks, storage and operating systems. This service is usually provided on a pay-as-you-go basis.

Do you want to know more about cloud computing and the benefits it can offer your business? Get in touch today to discuss your needs with our team of managed IT specialists.