What Kind of a Tool is Cloud Computing?

Cloud computing is used by just about all businesses in some capacity, but how much should your company rely on it for its important functions? Let’s discuss some of the options you have for your cloud computing infrastructure and how it can all contribute to your business’ continued success.

First, let’s take a closer look at what “the cloud” really means.

The Cloud is Just a Decentralized Network of Resources

The cloud can be considered a network of many computers and workstations that you access and connect to in order to collaborate and share data. It can be used for software, data, processing power, and other computing resources while providing an infrastructure to host them. It’s convenient and cost-effective, no question about it. To get the most value out of the cloud, we recommend that you examine particular types of solutions that can facilitate collaboration and productivity.

You Have a Lot of Options When it Comes to the Cloud

The cloud is only effective if you use it for the right purposes which align with your organization’s goals and objectives. Here are some of the different cloud options you have available to you.

• Public Cloud: The public cloud is a cloud solution offered by a third-party provider that maintains and delivers the service for your business. The business gets all the advantages of the cloud solution without any of the work of maintenance, management, or upkeep.
• Private Cloud: The other side of the coin is a private cloud, where the business owns and maintains the infrastructure of their cloud solution. This places more responsibility on your organization for maintenance and management, but it also makes your data much more secure.
• Hybrid Cloud: A hybrid cloud is a combination of both the public and private cloud, where businesses benefit from the advantages of both.

A good cloud solution can be used to fuel your various business needs, like those outlined below:

• Software-as-a-Service (SaaS): Instead of paying up-front for software solutions, you can instead pay a smaller monthly fee as required for each account you want to use. This keeps you from paying for the latest versions as they are released, too.
• Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS): Instead of purchasing your own servers and networking components, you can instead remove the responsibility of upkeep and maintenance by outsourcing this to an IaaS provider.
• Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS): If you subscribe to a PaaS provider, you get everything your business needs to succeed, including the software and infrastructure to manage it. It’s all fully managed by the provider with minimal responsibility on your part.

How does your company plan to use the cloud? Be sure to let us know in the comments below, or better yet, give us a call at (217) 428-6449 to learn how we can help you with your goals.