Cloud Computing refers to a technology in which storage, software, and processing happen on a remote server instead of the device in front of you, be it a cellphone, tablet, laptop, or computer.
Cloud computing is a current hot trend in the tech space and with the big tech companies providing cloud computing platforms the trend is set to continue for a long time to come. Startup IT companies, which are not saddled with the legacy cost of already bought hardware and software, are at a distinct advantage in immediately transitioning to cloud computing without much disruption to their daily operations.
Cost Effective
StartUp companies enjoy cloud computing and its pay-as-you-use principle. The pay-as-you-use principle is attractive to startup companies because they do not have to put up a big upfront investment into their IT infrastructure in order to service their customers. These start-up companies will often be cash flow negative and thus enjoy the flexibility of being able to pay less for using fewer resources in the cloud.
Fast Provisioning
The major advantage of cloud computing is fast provisioning whereby a new device can be connected to the cloud quickly and without any human intervention on the part of the cloud computing supplier. Pre-Cloud Computing days, if a new employee needed access to say Word Processing Software like Microsoft Office Word, you would have to order a CD of the software which would take a long time to arrive. Then your system administrators will have to install the software on the new user’s device.
Subscription Based
Cloud computing is often a subscription-based service in which the startup company will have access to and usage of the cloud as long as they have a fully paid-up subscription with the cloud provider. Should the startup company fails to pay the subscription fees at the agreed-upon interval, the cloud provider will simply disable the startup company’s account and access will be denied to the systems contained in the subscription. All sensitive company data, such as sales figures and client info, will be unaccessible and after a short duration permanently deleted by the cloud provider.
This is both a disadvantage and advantage of cloud computing in that company sensitive data is stored away from the company’s premises, or servers controlled by the company, but in the cloud.
Common Cloud Usages
A common instance of cloud computing would be the Software-as-a-service (SaaS). A SasS can be installed on a Virtual Server. A Virtual Server is a type of Infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS). Both SaaS and IaaS are the most common type of clouding computing
Most Common Cloud Providers
CEO and Founder of Mabotse Makofane (Pty) Ltd. Jacob is an avid reader of both business and historical political books. In his spare time he enjoy plays golf and going the picnic with his family for a relaxing afternoon of fresh air and braai meat.
