Cloud computing is an information technology (IT) term that describes a cloud services provider (CSP) delivering on-demand resources such as software, hardware, storage, databases, and networking to organizations via an internet network. It allows organizations to access and store data without needing in-house physical and other IT infrastructure.
There are three main cloud computing models: software as a service (SaaS), platform as a service (PaaS), and infrastructure as a service (IaaS). SaaS, also called cloud-based software, is application software housed in a cloud that clients can access using a web browser on various devices, including desktop computers and mobile devices.
PaaS provides on-demand hardware, software, and development tools that companies need to run, develop, and manage applications without requiring organizations to own and maintain on-premises resources. With IaaS, the CSP gives access to basic computing infrastructure, including physical and virtual servers, storage, and networking services.
Since the client only pays for the resources they need, an organization doesn’t overbuild or overprovision its data center because it eliminates unnecessary resources. In turn, in-house IT teams can focus on other crucial tasks. Consequently, this saves costs for businesses.
An organization can scale resources such as hardware and storage when demand grows without investing in on-premises resources. Companies with high load levels, such as those storing vast information databases, don’t need to pay or build the required infrastructure. Additionally, they can scale down on these resources if they are underutilizing them.
Organizations can also test new products and innovations fast. They can deactivate them if such services don’t provide what is needed. This allows developers to create and deploy new products and services nimbly.
Additionally, CSPs offer great performance by combing different cloud computing resources simultaneously. Resultantly, the client gets better returns than what owning an in-house dedicated server offers. High performance also increases input/output operations per second (IOPS). Notably, performance works hand-in-hand with availability. Cloud computing enhances availability since CSPs have many cloud facilities, resulting in no downtime.
For businesses that want to reduce their carbon footprint, cloud computing is a good resource alongside other methods a company may use to reduce carbon emissions. Cloud computing is greener than traditional in-house IT infrastructure since it eliminates the need for extra hardware and other power-consuming resources. In-house hardware may also become electronic waste, increasing an organization’s carbon footprint. Cloud computing eliminates all these and may reduce an organization’s carbon footprint by 90 percent.
Research claims that about 94 percent of companies experience security improvement when they adopt cloud computing services. Cloud computing is more secure than in-house infrastructure since CSPs use encryption for data transmitted over the internet and stores it in databases, making it hard for cybercriminals to infiltrate systems.
Cloud computing also offers helpful insights. With businesses competing for the same customers, getting invaluable data, such as customer transactions and buying habits, helps an organization better serve its customers. Still, some organizations may have in-house data analytics teams, but this comes at a cost. Cloud computing provides the same invaluable insights at an affordable price. Most CSPs offer cloud analytics that helps companies implement tracking mechanisms and generate customized reports.
Other organizations may have many employees and can have them collaborate when necessary. However, in-house collaboration is not as easy or effective as cloud computing-enabled collaboration. Cloud computing makes collaboration easy by allowing secure data access and sharing. This may not be possible with on-premises collaboration.Cloud computing is an information technology (IT) term that describes a cloud services provider (CSP) delivering on-demand resources such as software, hardware, storage, databases, and networking to organizations via an internet network. It allows organizations to access and store data without needing in-house physical and other IT infrastructure.
There are three main cloud computing models: software as a service (SaaS), platform as a service (PaaS), and infrastructure as a service (IaaS). SaaS, also called cloud-based software, is application software housed in a cloud that clients can access using a web browser on various devices, including desktop computers and mobile devices.
PaaS provides on-demand hardware, software, and development tools that companies need to run, develop, and manage applications without requiring organizations to own and maintain on-premises resources. With IaaS, the CSP gives access to basic computing infrastructure, including physical and virtual servers, storage, and networking services.
Since the client only pays for the resources they need, an organization doesn’t overbuild or overprovision its data center because it eliminates unnecessary resources. In turn, in-house IT teams can focus on other crucial tasks. Consequently, this saves costs for businesses.
An organization can scale resources such as hardware and storage when demand grows without investing in on-premises resources. Companies with high load levels, such as those storing vast information databases, don’t need to pay or build the required infrastructure. Additionally, they can scale down on these resources if they are underutilizing them.
Organizations can also test new products and innovations fast. They can deactivate them if such services don’t provide what is needed. This allows developers to create and deploy new products and services nimbly.
Additionally, CSPs offer great performance by combing different cloud computing resources simultaneously. Resultantly, the client gets better returns than what owning an in-house dedicated server offers. High performance also increases input/output operations per second (IOPS). Notably, performance works hand-in-hand with availability. Cloud computing enhances availability since CSPs have many cloud facilities, resulting in no downtime.
For businesses that want to reduce their carbon footprint, cloud computing is a good resource alongside other methods a company may use to reduce carbon emissions. Cloud computing is greener than traditional in-house IT infrastructure since it eliminates the need for extra hardware and other power-consuming resources. In-house hardware may also become electronic waste, increasing an organization’s carbon footprint. Cloud computing eliminates all these and may reduce an organization’s carbon footprint by 90 percent.
Research claims that about 94 percent of companies experience security improvement when they adopt cloud computing services. Cloud computing is more secure than in-house infrastructure since CSPs use encryption for data transmitted over the internet and stores it in databases, making it hard for cybercriminals to infiltrate systems.
Cloud computing also offers helpful insights. With businesses competing for the same customers, getting invaluable data, such as customer transactions and buying habits, helps an organization better serve its customers. Still, some organizations may have in-house data analytics teams, but this comes at a cost. Cloud computing provides the same invaluable insights at an affordable price. Most CSPs offer cloud analytics that helps companies implement tracking mechanisms and generate customized reports.
Other organizations may have many employees and can have them collaborate when necessary. However, in-house collaboration is not as easy or effective as cloud computing-enabled collaboration. Cloud computing makes collaboration easy by allowing secure data access and sharing. This may not be possible with on-premises collaboration.
