The idea of ‘the cloud’ can seem like a magical and mysterious one. Its name gives the impression that things float around in the air and make other things work. To demystify it a bit, all the cloud is, is a network of servers spanning across the globe.
These servers have 3 main purposes:
Manage and store data
Run applications
Deliver content which can be accessed anywhere at any time e.g. email or streaming video
Data is stored on servers, which are controlled by a cloud provider, and businesses or end users can access their stored information on ‘the cloud’ using an internet connection.
Why is the cloud so popular?
The reason the cloud has captured the imagination of businesses all over the world, is because it allows them to make use of applications which can be used by millions of people all at the same time with someone else’s computers doing the hard work.
Being able to access documents anywhere using any device with an internet connection, makes it easier to accommodate ideas such as flexible working, or easily move between sites when growing a business. The flexibility of cloud computing has also made it possible for smaller businesses to compete on a larger scale, by not having to worry about the costs associated with installing and maintaining expensive onsite servers.
Is the cloud secure?
Again, the name of ‘the cloud’ makes it sound like your data is floating around available for everyone to access, but this is definitely not the case.
In some ways, storing your data in the cloud is more secure than storing it locally on your own PC, laptop, or tablet. Why? Because if your computer is stolen, everything stored on it is gone. If your documents are saved to the cloud, they can be re-downloaded to a new machine with no fuss.
Most cloud applications also utilise encryption to make it difficult to access your data, and their physical servers are protected by 24/7 security – an impossible feat for most businesses who have their own physical server onsite.
For further information
There are so many ways the cloud can be utilised for businesses and they can be put together in an infinite number of ways to suit every unique business. The best thing you can do is get in touch and we can discuss what you’re looking to achieve before making recommendations.
