What is Cloud Computing?
Cloud Computing simply refers to IT systems and resources that are accessed via the internet rather than from equipment that a business has to purchase, setup, manage and store on-site themselves. Cloud Computing allows a business to use IT as a utility, delivered as a service by a service provider and paid for according to usage in a similar way as their telephone or electricity bill. Cloud Computing is also often referred to as “Software as a Service” or a “Hosted IT Solution”.
What are the benefits of Cloud Computing for a Small Business?
There are many benefits associated with Cloud Computing compared to on-site, in-house IT solutions. These benefits include; large cost savings, minimal capital outlay, always up to date services, minimal management overhead and the flexibility to scale up and down as required.
Below are the some of the benefits why so many organisations are moving to cloud computing solutions;
1. Save money on IT hardware, software and maintenance costs
With Cloud Computing a small business no longer needs to buy or lease expensive computer equipment such as servers and backup equipment or buy costly software such as operating systems and applications to deliver IT resources to its employees. The cost model behind cloud computing is that you only pay for what you use, which enable companies to budget and control their IT expenditures.
Using Cloud computing services also reduces the need to employ technical staff or to engage an IT support company to manage complex in-house equipment.
Savings vary from business to business but “Total cost of Ownership” savings in the region of 30%-50% are very common.
2. The ability to securely share files and folders with colleagues across multiple locations
The ability to share business data internally and externally has always been available via Email and FTP (File Transfer Protocol) but now with the introduction of services such as Microsoft SharePoint Online, Google’s Sites and a wide range of synchronisation software, collective working from multiple remote locations has become easier than ever.
The Microsoft and Google offerings ensure data is only stored on secure servers, allowing access to files and folders via password enabled web-sites. The synchronisation products such as Syncplicity, Dropbox and Box.net work in a similar way, but they also copy data to the local hard drives of the users involved.
3. Online Backups mean no more manual tape/disk changes or having to store tapes/disks in fire safes
With online backups, you no longer have to switch tapes or worry about them getting stored safely off-site. They can be set to run every time a file is created or modified, or they can be scheduled to run out of office hours. They also offer more flexibility than local backups; when restoring document versions, its quick and easy to restore the same file from yesterday, last week, last month and from 3 months ago.
4. Regular software and hardware upgrades are a thing of the past
Most online solutions are sold running on the latest versions of software and hardware; this means businesses no longer have to budget for upgrading hardware and software on servers and desktops.
Software applications and operating systems will always be running the latest editions, kept up-to-date with security patches by the online server vendor, ensuring that there is no longer a need for IT staff to perform expensive, out-of-hours software or hardware upgrades.
5. Data storage options can be increased or decreased with the demands of your business
By using subscription based services, businesses are able to scale their storage needs rather than having to go out and purchase more expensive hardware. For example, if a company is running a project whereby it requires a new server with additional storage for 6 months, they can easily add this to their subscription and remove it when the project is completed.
Also, with cloud based email products such as Microsoft’s hosted Exchange and Google mail, the mailbox storage is a massive 25GB. This is far larger than an in-house server would offer. Email archiving is also offered, which means companies and its staff never have to consider deleting or archiving their emails again.
6. IT administration is made easy to use and manage
Many Cloud Computing services come with simple to use administration control panels to allowing easy and simple changes to be made quickly by customers without needing to contact the service provider.
Backups are made easier, with cloud based methods there is no need to change tapes or disks and restoration monitoring can be done easily via internet.
IT support companies can easily administer and support business services via web based utilities, enabling quicker administration and response to general IT support requests.
7. The ability to work effectively from anywhere with an internet connection, and even from your mobile phone
Internet based solutions offer employees the immediate ability to access information from wherever they are. This gives them and their business greater flexibility and an edge on any competitors that are dependent on local, in-house services.
Cloud computing enables important data to be accessed on the move using laptops, mobile phones or web enabled public computers.
8. Provides a complete disaster recovery solution that is always readily available
There is a cloud solution for every business requirement, for example;
- Data backups to online servers
- VoIP telephony that is performed over the internet
- Business applications and database solutions that are available via the web
- Online email services
This entire range of services enable employee’s the ability to work from any computer with an internet connection. This in effect is the ultimate disaster recovery solution. It means that businesses are no longer completely reliant on their office internet connection or a server(s) or desktops.
Cloud computing services are usually provided with guaranteed service level agreements, typically 99.99%, and the service provider ensures that the services are always available. There is often financial compensation for failure to meet Service Level commitments.
With Cloud Computing your data is held in highly secure data centres with data being replicated in real time and automatically backed up providing peace on mind that data is safe and secure.
9. Offers greener computing that is less harmful to the environment
Cloud computing uses less energy than traditional data centres, making it a much greener solution and kinder to the environment. Data centres stores servers that use virtualisation technology to ensure that each machine has the ability to perform multiple roles, which increases its value, while keeping the electricity it uses to a minimum.
