What is Cloud Computing?
Cloud computing is, without doubt, the latest IT buzzword, but what exactly is the cloud computing model and what benefits does it bring to today’s businesses? Defined as internet (i.e. cloud) based development and use of computer technology (i.e. computing), cloud computing is an emerging innovation that delivers critical systems and information to users without the need to buy, install, manage or own any infrastructure.
How does cloud computing work?
Common business applications are delivered online and accessible from a web browser, whilst software and data are stored by cloud computing service providers on central remote servers. Your workforce can therefore easily access their entire desktop and personal files via the internet or secure network – as and when they need to.
Migrating your information assets to the ‘cloud’ will optimise hardware usage and enable better management of computing power demand, thereby increasing your organisation’s agility and responsiveness to emerging business opportunities or threats.
In today’s competitive marketplace, businesses need to explore new ways to reduce costs while adding value. By centralising storage, memory, processing and bandwidth, cloud technology delivers more efficient computing. If properly used, it also enables companies to make a significant reduction in their IT budget as well as in data centre
operational costs.
Benefits of cloud computing
- Avoid capital expenditure on hardware, software and services
- Pay for consumption on a utility or subscription basis with little or no upfront cost
- Low barriers to entry with rapid provisioning
- Shared infrastructure and cost savings
- Low management overheads
- Fully scalable and highly resilient performance
- High levels of data security, accountability and control.
