Confused about cloud computing?
Posted on Thu, Apr 22, 2010 @ 03:43 PM
Learn more about the benefits and limitations cloud computing presents for businesses...
Depending on the size of your company, cloud computing may dramatically reduce administrative costs. However, do the benefits outweigh the pitfalls?
Cloud computing is Internet-based computing. This means, all of the shared resources like software and information your company uses every day, would be provided to office computers and other devices as it is needed. By renting usage from a third-party provider, your business can cut costs by eliminating the need for a full physical infrastructure.
Cloud computing terms to remember…
Cloud computing has two bases, Software as a Service (SaaS) and Platform as a Service (PaaS). Think of SaaS as a software rental car company: In business, you use software as a vehicle to travel through transactions and communicate with others. Whether you are creating a contract for a new client, or processing a regular monthly payment, the software you use costs money. SaaS offers the software you need for a fixed monthly fee.
Meanwhile, PaaS is similar to a package deal you purchase from your travel agent that includes all of your travel arrangements. Instead of just renting the vehicle (software), you rent the hotel room (desktop computer) and your agent throws in coffee and breakfast at the buffet, too (a support contract.)
Blah, blah...cloud computing...blah blah...platform, what? If the last few paragraphs didn’t make much sense, this might help: Cloud computing can be described as a public utility. Your business pays for the specific software or other amenities, such as equipment or storage, on a monthly basis just as you would pay for the exact amount of electricity that’s used.
The benefits of cloud computing. There are four major benefits of cloud computing for businesses: easy scalability, increased reliability, high performance and specific configurability. Comparatively, these benefits surpass the standard dedicated infrastructure method of networking.
New businesses looking for a computing solution, or companies looking to make a change in their infrastructure, may elect to use cloud computing instead of forking over a huge capital investment to setup a network, purchase software packages, and pay someone to manage it all. Cloud computing can be a fantastic way to get a jump-start with little initial investment and fixed, or at least, predictable monthly costs.
The limitations of cloud computing.
As with everything, cloud computing has it downfalls. Cloud computing isn’t suitable for all business types, especially those that are reliant on decade old software. As a matter of fact, security and compliance are huge factors for decision makers because, cloud computing takes your data out of your office and out of your control. As a result, it is imperative to select a vendor that offers the security and privacy controls you need.
Software compatibility woes…
That’s right, Vista isn’t the only animal with compatibility issues. While it seems that any program you can think of should be available in the cloud, it isn’t a software heaven. Cloud computing vendors are still working to offer industry specific or specialty programs. You may need to shop around to find a vendor that has what you need.
However, be aware that transitioning from an older version of software to a newer version may not be a walk in the park. Older software may cause limitation with a newer operating system; it’s like trying to change a tire on a car while driving. Be sure to look at the features and advantages to keeping your current software and explore new opportunities for your business if necessary.
Don’t be afraid of change.
Cloud computing is said to be the “Next big thing!” in technology this year. If you are ready to make a change for your office, give us a call today to explore cloud computing options for your business.