How Cloud Computing Can Benefit Your Business

Quite simply, Cloud Computing is the delivery of computing services over the internet, which is the 'cloud' in this case. It offers services on a pay-by-use scale. This means that you only have to pay for the services rendered to you. Cloud computing dates back to the early years of computing - in the 1950s. Although it has drastically metamorphosed over the years, it still takes the form it took back then.

It is important to know that the term 'cloud' roughly means internet and although it is referred to in the abstract sense, companies offering computing services are offering it in the real sense - cloud. As our world is gradually progressing technologically, many businesses - and people are adopting cloud services in the stead of the regular services being rendered. This is no surprise. Cloud computing offers a wide variety of services that benefit businesses worldwide.

One can encounter three types of cloud computing.

• Infrastructure-as-a-Service

• Platform-as-a-Service

• Software-as-a-Service

Before we dwell into details, you must understand that though there are only three types of cloud computing, there are different types of computing.

Infrastructure-as-a-Service

IaaS hosts infrastructure components, traditionally in an on-premises data centre. This may include servers, storage and networking idea.

IaaS is often the choice of simple companies because, in comparison with the other firms, the IaaS is more comfortable, faster and cheaper and more easily controlled. It works perfectly for temporary workloads and experimental workloads.

IaaS customers access the services and resources through a Wide Area Network (WAN) like the internet and can use the facilities to install application stacks. The services rendered on IaaS are policy-controlled giving IaaS users a level of control over their use.

Perhaps even more interesting about the IaaS is the fact that businesses have the option to pay-as-they-go. This payment may be hourly, weekly or monthly, thereby eliminating the need for unnecessary expenses.

Platform-as-a-Service

PaaS provides platform-based services which give freedom to users. This freedom allows users to run, develop and control applications without the complexity usually associated with it. It is also sometimes remotely referred to as Application-Platform-as-a-Service (APaaS).

PaaS was introduced to the world in 2005 by a European company. Since then, it has taken on several forms but still retained its original purposes. Javascript was heavily used in the offering of services in PaaS. It is, therefore, not surprising that app-builders embrace PaaS because of the flexibility it offers. PaaS does the work of monitoring and controls the workflow of the services rendered.

Software-as-a-Service

SaaS employs a different approach. It is a software distribution model that offers a third-party provider which makes services more accessible to the user. Financial businesses hire this type of computing services because it removes the need for organisations to run and control applications on their own. SaaS does the dirty work for them. However, businesses have to rely on a third-party provider to provide services. This poses some problems including disruption of service.

How It Can Help Your Business

1. Reduced Cost

Cloud computing is easier on the purse than other regular forms of computing. Employing cloud will reduce costs for your IT businesses. Instead of buying and purchasing different types of equipment for your business, you can employ cloud which will work everything for you.

2. Gives Your Company a More Modern Outlook

Cloud computing gives your company a more modern outlook. This is very important since the face of your business directly affects your income and sales. What better way to be 'in vogue' than to employ cloud services?

3. Improved Communication and Exposure

Cloud computing offers your business better communication with the outside world. It gives your business exposure that regular and older models of computing do not.

4. Availability

Unlike older models of Computing, cloud computing offers an always-on availability. It is the internet. The internet never takes days off. It works every time and businesses do not need to experience interruption at any time.

Last Word

In a world where technological advancement is become increasingly pronounced, the future of businesses lies in the use of the internet and cloud computing offers precisely that.