The Internet has expanded quickly in just a few short decades, and cloud computing may be the most innovative technology we’ve seen in a long time. However, not everyone may know what cloud computing is exactly. Let’s take a minute to cover some of the basics of cloud computing to get a better understanding of what it is and what it can do for you and your business.
Source: PixabayWhat is Cloud Computing?
The cloud is defined as a computing model that enables convenient, on-demand network access to data and resources. It works by pooling configurable resources, such as networks, servers, and applications, that can be released quickly and with minimal provider interaction or management effort. Essentially, it’s an electronic structure that is stored over several computers and served via a network connection, typically the Internet. It gives us the ability to access the documents, data, and information from anywhere at anytime, with unlimited data and application use.
How Does It Work?
The “cloud” is made up of two parts: the service end and the user end. The service end is where the files and data, such as VMware are stored, and the user end is the network. For example, if a company has all of its data stored in the cloud, someone can connect to the servers holding that data, click on the application software, and access all the data. Applications running on the cloud take advantage of the flexibility of the computing power available. The computers are set up to work together so that it appears as if the applications were running on one particular machine. The flexibility in this system is a major advantage of cloud computing as it allows you to use as much or as little of the cloud resources as you want or need.
What Are The Advantages?
If used properly, working with cloud data can have several benefits. Storing information in the cloud gives you almost limitless storage capacity. This can save you money since you will no longer have to worry about increasing your current storage space.
Cloud computing is also incredibly cost efficient. Licensing fees for multiple users can prove to be very expensive. The cloud, however, is available at much cheaper rates and can decrease your costs significantly. Furthermore, there are several pay-as-you-go options available. Flexibility and convenience are other advantages to cloud computing. Once you register, you can easily access your information from literally anywhere in the world.
There’s a good chance you’ve already used cloud computing and didn’t even know it. Do you have an email account with a web-based service, like Yahoo! or Hotmail? That’s cloud computing! Instead of running an email program on your computer, you log in to a remote web email account. The software and storage in your account don’t exist on your actual computer. Instead it’s on the service’s computer cloud.
Can you think of other ways you have used the cloud without realizing it?