It’s time to finally understand The Cloud.
The term is everywhere nowadays – cloud computing, cloud storage, cloud backups – but most people hesitate when asked what exactly it is.
In reality, it’s simpler than you might think. It’s not a mystical fog that hovers over your computer, magical storing all your pictures Nor is it an excruciatingly complex technology that requires a degree to understand. The cloud, or cloud computing, refers to the storage and access of data, applications or system on the internet rather than on physical hardware.
For instance, if you take a photo and save it to Dropbox or Google Drive, that photo now resides in the cloud. It’s stored on a platform fully hosted on the internet. Since it isn’t confined to a physical server, you can retrieve it wherever you have internet access
The cloud has revolutioned how we approach technology and business operations. It has significantly expanded opportunities for both cloud application creators and users . Here are some of its greatest benefits:
- Cost
Since cloud-based systems are not owned physically but utilized as internet services, prices are significantly lower. So instead of purchasing an expensive system, you’re just using it through the cloud. Furthermore, you can avoid the need to purchase equipment and hardware.
However, be cautious.With the rising popularity of cloud services, some companies have discovered ways to generate substantial profits(if not more)through cloud technology. While a monthly fee to a service will always be cheaper than buying a complete system upfront, those fees can easily rack up. This is especially crucial for systems you intend to use long-term; conduct thorough research on long-term costs.
(If you want to read more about SaaS, or software as a service, check out my previous blog post where I go into detail about the pros and cons.) - Flexibility and Access
Crucial for both individuals and businesses, the ability to access your work wherever and whenever is personally my favourite aspect of using the cloud. I can access my data at home, at work, at any computer I find if I’m away on vacation – it’s saved me so much time and prevented so many headaches. - Business Continuity
This is arguably one of the least considered benfits but potentially the most vital for businesses. Storing everything on physical threats such as natural disasters, flooding, electrical issues and similar risks. Hopefully you’ll never have to deal with it. Backing up your data to the cloud means that in the event of a crisis, your data is safe, saving you from data disaster.