You might have heard of cloud computing many times, but do you know what this term means and how does it work?
Cloud computing is increasingly becoming popular in the business world today. As we can see, technology is evolving at a very fast pace and many businesses, small or large, are slowly turning to the Cloud. Organizations recognize the impact of cloud computing on their revenue, productivity, and security. Implementing a cloud solution can get you ahead of your competitors.
What is Cloud Computing?
Simply put, cloud computing means storing and accessing data over the internet instead of a hard disk. It is defined as a service that provides users to work over the internet. Users can access data on the Cloud and must provide a user ID and password to gain entry, for security reasons.
The data stored can be anything from images, videos, files, and programs. With the help of a good internet connection, users don’t need to download and install applications to carry out tasks on their computers or smartphone.
Cloud computing is everywhere, and you might not be aware of it, but you are using it daily. How?
When you store and back up a data
When you stream audio and video content
When you do Data Analysis, and
When you require On-demand services
Cloud Computing Service Models
Software as a Service (SaaS)
Also known as a ‘Software on Demand’ and the most common option for private users. SaaS is hosted by the vendor or service provider where applications are made available to users over the internet. Traditionally, software applications are bought upfront before installing on the computer. With SaaS, instead of purchasing the software, users can subscribe and pay monthly via the internet.
If you are a small company that requires collaboration between teams and needs applications that is accessible via web and mobile, SaaS might be a good option for you. This is also recommended for businesses who don’t want to get involved with servers or hardware issues.
Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
The most common type of Cloud service where users can rent their entire IT Infrastructure from a service provider and pay corresponding to their use. This includes servers, storage, networks, and operating systems.
Some reasons that small businesses or firms prefer IaaS are that it is faster, easier, and cost-efficient lessening the responsibility of the organizations to maintain their infrastructure.
This service model is recommended for businesses that require increased security and need control over the infrastructure.
Platform as a Service (PaaS)
This service provides a facility for users to publish and customize software applications in a hosted environment. PaaS allows developers to create applications faster without the need to configure the infrastructure.
The service provider has its hardware and software freeing the user from installing it to implement a new application. One benefit of PaaS is its lower cost and the user only pays for essential things.
If your business is planning to create a customized app and multiple developers are working on the same project, PaaS is a good option.
Benefits of Cloud Computing For Your Business
Fewer Expenses
Moving to the Cloud will reduce the cost of IT systems management and maintenance. Instead of purchasing new systems and equipment for your business, you can take advantage of the resources from your service provider and reduce the cost of system upgrades, energy consumption, and labor.
Security
Most providers follow policies to ensure the security and protection of your data and infrastructure against threats. Also, it enables data backup and recovery which can be reflected throughout multiple services and can be accessed at any time.
Related Article: Cloud Backup Tips To Keep Your Data Safe
Flexibility
We all know how important it is for businesses to be flexible especially in these trying times. Cloud computing will allow your employees to work anywhere since they will get access to data, provided they have an internet connection.
Collaboration
When your team needs to work on a certain project, and each are in different locations, they can utilize cloud computing to work and share files at the same time. It is secure and will allow your business to connect and communicate easily.
Automatic Updates
Cloud-based applications automatically update so you don’t need to call for support to manually install updates on your device every time. Updates could include the latest versions in addition to server upgrades and more, which allows your business to save time and money.
Choosing the right service model for your business?
Understanding the different service models is necessary to ensure that you are getting the benefits you are hoping for when you upgrade to the Cloud. Matching the right service model that fits your business needs can be complicated and it might take time for everyone to adapt.
It’s always recommended to get assistance from a managed service provider with expertise in the Cloud to guarantee that your transition is smooth, and your Cloud is operating properly.
Uniserve IT Solutions offers cloud services that guarantee your advantage in today’s market. Contact us and find out what ‘as a Service’ model is right for your business.