What is Cloud Computing?

One of the most effective ways to save money and be efficient as a small or medium-sized business is to operate under cloud computing services. Just like our personal home cloud stores our photos or favourite songs, cloud computing for business is a way of storing information and sharing it with employees so that work can get done at a quick pace and for less money.

To further understand this concept, this article will explain what cloud computing is, how it works and what the benefits of using cloud computing are. By the end of the article, you will be able to make an informed decision about using cloud computing for your business.

What is Cloud Computing?

Cloud computing is the delivery of computing services over the internet which can mean faster innovation and flexible resources for your company. In very basic terms, cloud computing is when a business is able to operate part of or its entire company via the internet. This can include:

servers

storage

databases

networking

software

The easiest way to understand what cloud computing is by thinking of all the files and technology used in your company as being switched to being on the internet rather than on the hardware(computer) you use to do your work.

We are more accustomed to thinking about “the cloud” as a space to save millions of photos of your cats, but it can also be used for larger more complex storage.

Common Uses of Cloud Computing

The most common ways organizations are able to use cloud computing are:

Cloud storage: stores files needed by the business and synced to each employee’s computer so that everything is stored automatically in the cloud. Cloud storage allows you to share files securely and access them on any device, including a personal computer.

Cloud backup: larger systems that can back up crucial technology such as a server, will protect the loss of files/information from cyber-attacks or a server crash. The best cloud backup services combine storage, data synchronization and restoration, real-time backups, archiving, and high-level security. Many cloud storage services also provide cloud backup functionality.

Cloud hosting: facilitate multiple types of information sharing such as email services, application hosting or web-based phone systems and data storage. A cloud hosting service can host your business website, manage databases and house domain names.

Software as a service(SaaS): a cloud-based application delivery solution. These internet-based software services can allow companies to do their sales management, financial management or email marketing within their online platform. Services such as Quickbooks, can, for example, help businesses keep track of their expenses and have been set up for even the least tech-savvy manager.

These common uses of cloud computing can help businesses not only protect their information but also work in a virtual space. Cloud hosting services, for example, can provide your company with software that allows work to be done on projects by multiple different employees.

As remote work continues to gain popularity, these types of services can be crucial when running a business. You want to be able to manage both your in-person employees and those who work from home and without some of these cloud computing services, you would not be able to do so. Related: 16 Steps to Effective Virtual Onboarding(with Checklist and Sample Schedule)

Benefits of Cloud Computing

The following are the benefits of using cloud computing in your organization.

Cost: the cost of using cloud computing services is a lot cheaper than having to pay for the physical infrastructure needed for an office. Instead of paying for multiple computers, for example, each employee can have their personal computer and access everything needed from the internet.

Remote work: easy to have the whole company online, without the need to have an actual office. This is often preferable for many employees, and you can have workers from all over the world instead of only from one location. Related: Best Practices for Virtual Interviews

Innovation: with employees from all over the world you get a lot of different perspectives, which can increase the amount of creativity. Being able to have innovative solutions can break you apart from the competition which can lead to your business growing in size.

Scale: Businesses can grow easily when everything is done by cloud computing as it is easy to do things such as share resources or data needed to do the job. With costs down due to using a cloud computing system, you also have more monetary resources to get the help you need for certain projects, meaning your business can become bigger at a fast pace.

Collaboration: with cloud computing, collaborating becomes easy as there is a central system that allows employees to see the progress of their teammates. Communication between colleagues can become very easy as there are chat systems that allow teammates to communicate directly no matter where they are located.

Data storage: it is a lot easier to store large amounts of data when you use cloud computing. This can be very useful, especially for businesses that need to keep records for a particular amount of time or if your organization works with large data files such as high-definition photographs.

Concerns of Cloud Computing

Not everything about using cloud computing for your business will come without some risks. Before deciding to move your business to the cloud, think about the following concerns.

Security: Using cloud computing services can make your business vulnerable to hacking and leaks of sensitive information.

Privacy: Businesses that use cloud computing services have to be aware that their data is being collected by companies such as Google. Some worry that the amount of data is too much, while others argue that data collection is something we all have to be aware of and deal with on a case-by-case basis.

Availability: If there is a large service outage for a company that you use for cloud computing, will you be able to access your information so that your business can still operate?

These concerns are what every business owner looking to move their business to cloud computing has to think about. Something to remember when thinking about cloud computing is that you do not have your entire business online.

Start with storing only a few files or using services only for a particular part of your business. This will allow you to assess how well cloud computing services work for your organization and if you want to continue to use them.

Making the decision to start using cloud computing for your business may not be an easy one to make, but the benefits seem to outweigh the concerns. Cloud computing services are a great tool for any business looking to save money and will continue to grow in popularity in the future.

What is Cloud Computing?