Cloud computing can be basically defined as implementing a process via virtual servers available over the internet, as opposed to on a local device. The “cloud” becomes the application for business processes. Cloud computing allows for data and business applications to be processed online without the need for client or local software. The focus of cloud computing is to provide a way to increase capacity or add capabilities, on the fly, without investing in new infrastructure, training new personnel, or licensing new software.
Cloud computing allows for business applications to be conducted from any place and at any time without the necessity of a local desktop. This increased data processing ease allows for company-wide real time interaction and availability.
Ease of access and operation is a major advantage of implementing cloud computing into a company’s business plan. Cloud computing allows the entire organization to be able to access the organization’s system from anywhere. Updates are made in real-time so employees who are traveling can communicate their status to the rest of the office immediately.
Troubleshooting is another key advantage to cloud computing, as any bugs can be immediately remedied by the system’s developers. All of the users would have their systems remedied simultaneously, eliminating lag time resulting from fixing each user’s software individually.
Monetarily, cloud computing is cost effective as tedious local connections and additional infrastructure become obsolete. Process efficiency and up time are ensured.
Currently cloud computing has a wide range of service providers delivering multiple variations of cloud-based services. These services range from full-blown applications to storage services to spam filtering. The following are some basic cloud-based services:
- SaaS – SaaS, or Software as a Service, delivers a single application through the browser to thousands of customers using a multitenant architecture. On the customer side, it means no upfront investment in servers or software licensing; on the provider side, with just one application to maintain, costs are low compared to conventional hosting.
- Utility computing - Storage and virtual servers that IT can access on demand. Although utility computing has the potential to eventually replace parts of the datacenter, it is currently mainly used by enterprises for supplemental, non-mission-critical needs.
- Platform as a service - Delivers development environments as a service. Users build custom applications that run on the provider's infrastructure and are delivered to end-users via the Internet from the provider's servers.
- MSP (managed service providers) – A managed service is basically an application exposed to IT rather than to end-users, such as a virus scanning service for e-mail or an application monitoring service.
- Service commerce platforms – Offers a service hub that users interact with, most commonly used in trading environments, such as expense management systems that allow users to order travel. They are basically automated service bureaus.
Although desktop and notebook systems will still be utilized for many years, cloud computing is definitely the wave of the future for many applications and usage models. This future encompasses a constantly accessible, customer molded resource that is a shared, collaborative and leased commodity.
