“Cloud technology” is a term that gets mentioned a lot these days, but many people don’t have a strong idea of what exactly it means. We’re here to clear that up.
Defining Cloud Technology
In simple terms, cloud technology is IT resources designed to be accessed over the internet rather than directly through hardware. Cloud technology comes in many different forms, but cloud storage is an easy example to clarify how “the cloud” works.
On any computer or other device, you have a hard drive where you can store files. That’s traditional computing. If you store files on your hard drive, you can only access them through that device.
You now also have the option to store files through cloud storage. If you chose that option, your files wouldn’t physically reside on your device. They’d be stored in a server that belongs to the cloud storage provider you use. You would be able to access those files over the internet on any internet-enabled device.
The cloud technology in this example is the software and hardware you’re using to store your files off of your device. The strenuous computing is done by servers, not your own computer. That’s a service provided by a cloud service provider that you have access to on a pay-as-you-go basis.
There are several benefits of moving to the cloud, including the potential for reduced costs, improved data security, easier scalability, better business continuity, greater flexibility, and more.
More and more businesses are implementing cloud services for a reason. Using cloud technology is the right move for businesses big and small.
Ways to Use the Cloud
Part of what makes cloud technology so appealing and useful is that there are multiple ways to utilize it. Here are a few:
Storage
As the earlier example illustrates, cloud storage is one of the simplest yet most useful cloud services available. Storing all the files your business needs on your own hard drives can be expensive, inefficient, and risky. Cloud storage solves that problem.
With cloud storage, your whole team will be able to access the files they need from anywhere they have an internet connection. The storage can even scale as your business grows, so it can be fairly priced for the size of your operation.
Data Analysis
Many business people will tell you that data is what gives the best companies a competitive edge. Through data analytics, you can learn about sales performance, customer behavior and attributes, market trends, and more. Unfortunately, completing that data analysis demands serious resources and investments. Companies that were previously priced out of in-house data analytics can use cloud technology to take advantage of that opportunity.
Cloud technology makes big data analytics accessible and inexpensive.
Mobile Working
More and more companies are moving to remote or hybrid work schedules. While these setups offer many benefits, managing a distributed team is often very tricky. Cloud technology can make it easier.
The cloud allows all of your employees to access the files and programs they need from wherever they are. Your data can sync seamlessly to support remote workforces
Final Thoughts
Cloud technology can sound complicated, but it’s easy to get used to once you get started. If you need help, reach out to us! 911 PC Help is the expert on all things IT and cloud computing. We’d be happy to help your business get started with cloud technology.