What is Cloud Computing?

The internet was not as powerful like it is today. It has rapidly changed the way we behave, decides, and interact in a span of just 15 years from now. With the invention of optical fiber technology, the speed has increased dramatically.

Earlier, all IT businesses have to set up their own servers, own computers and thus, rely on enterprise server solutions. The server setup used to be super costly. On top of that, there was the cost of server maintenance and upgradation. Even after that, servers can have hardware or software failures causing total downtime and financial losses to the businesses.

Concerns started arising about how to focus on business instead of platforms and digital infrastructure. With the improvement of internet speed & accessibility, tech companies started to think about ways to provide businesses with remote servers and no downtime.

The motto of the tech companies is- We take care of your infrastructure, We provide you data storage, we do all your business & data processing, we build reports- you just focus on business, you think of innovation. The next agenda is to provide zero downtime- so tech companies started building multiple servers in multiple geographical locations and duplicated data across geographies. The cloud servers started becoming fault-tolerant, and natural disaster tolerant and chances of downtime reduced manifolds while keeping business data safe & secured. 

Finally, they provided scalability - so businesses will get a monthly billing based on how much they use. The starting cost of cloud service is minimal and so, there is no need to buy expensive servers - almost zero initial investment. And with that, even small businesses got the affordability of accessing & experiencing digital infrastructure.

Cloud computing is a new way of accessing computers and resources via the internet or a private network. One can access any kind of computing resource—hardware, storage, databases, networking, and software - all with a monthly billing rate. Cloud tech companies provide tools for checking usage and respective costs - very similar to electric meters - pay as you use. This makes the whole process very transparent.

Reduced Cost

As mentioned above, adopting the cloud does not require a business to have an initial investment. This can be a good option for start-ups. Same time, organizations can determine what they need and how much. That would enable them to opt out of features and services they do not need anymore.

It would also save time for the IT solution team to focus on operations, business, and customers.

Flexibility

Cloud services provide the option for scaling resources. Many businesses have seasonal demands and they need more resources based on that. Therefore, they can scale the services based on need, customize it and do required adjustments - all of which make the cloud a flexible option for customers.

Safety

It provides enhanced safety and security by providing disaster recovery. Downtime is a major concern for most businesses. It not only reduces productivity but also degrades revenue and customer base. Cloud computing can provide zero downtime and eliminate chances of data loss by providing backup features in emergencies - hardware/ software failure, or malicious software attack.

Sustainability

Data centers are often associated with high energy costs and CO2 emissions. And, the ever-growing demand for computing power requires more energy and natural resources causing more damage to the environment. However, cloud computing allows the usage of resources efficiently and reduces carbon footprints which is why it is a more sustainable solution for the future.

Collaboration

COVID-19 has changed how organizations work and operate. With the increased amount of employees working remotely, collaboration, teamwork, and communication were all hit hard. However, the usage of cloud services provides ample support to meet the demands and manage the increased load.

Cloud tools like Cisco Webex, Microsoft Teams, Skype, and Zoom helped seamless collaboration among teams. Dropbox and Google Docs helped real-time information sharing among teammates. 

Cloud computing stores data in remote servers meaning there can be data theft, leakage, or other security concerns. Same time, by using the cloud,  the organization must have to trust the tech partner. There have been situations before with data theft that has invoked reliability issues & privacy concerns among customers.

Same time, that has caused tech companies to put advanced security measures and encryption tools to protect consumers' data. No doubt, businesses should exercise all pros and cons before having a presence in the cloud world.