Cloud solutions and cloud computing are two of the most searched for terms on the internet, today. What is cloud computing? Where did the cloud come from? Why is it called cloud computing? Can Cloud Solutions really help me? We understand why such a mass confusion exists, as it isn’t even coined in the Oxford Dictionary, yet. Who would have thought…a cloud that grows like wildfire. A myriad of cloud computing services is now readily available to businesses both big and small.

What is the Cloud?

In short, cloud computing services utilize a network of remote servers to hold, process, and manage company data. The caveat is that these servers aren’t personal or local servers that would normally be used, but located somewhere on the proverbial sea that is the internet.

While traditionally a company or business would keep its server farms localized in a central area, cloud computing allows a company to forego the requirement of server purchase and maintenance entirely.

Benefits of Cloud Solutions: Cost

The first and most immediately notable benefit of cloud computing is that it completely cuts out of the cost of setting up and running a data center. Buying servers, their respective operating systems, power systems, network hardware, security systems, cooling, and more costs a pretty penny.

And that’s just the initial fee it takes to build a server room from the ground up. Keeping everything working isn’t cheap either and money needs to be spent on both workers and parts to keep a business running smooth.

Even better is that most cloud services utilize a type of pay structure that is comparable to a homeowner’s utility bill. A customer only has to pay for what he or she uses during a pay period.

Benefits of Cloud Solutions: Services

It may seem counterintuitive to utilize a separate company to run servers at an unknown location, but in some ways, this is a safer alternative to keeping a traditional server room. There many controls, technologies, and policies that cloud computing services put into place to protect data against possible threats.

Benefits of Cloud Solutions: Flexibility

Cloud computing users are able to scale the level of services to match their needs. This is a bonus for smaller businesses that require cloud services but require a matching level of support.

Benefits of Cloud Solutions: Scalability

One of the most important aspects of cloud computing is that it is scalable to just about any service that is required. If a smaller footprint is required, only the necessary amount of processing power will be diverted for the job. If a large business needs dozens of servers and computing power, cloud services can do that.

Benefits of Cloud Solutions: Productivity

Local server rooms require a lot of maintenance time to keep everything working as intended. The software will need to be patched, data backups need to be created, new hardware needs to be installed, and all this while not impacting the resources a company’s employees require. Freeing up the time it takes to ensure the running of a server room, an IT team can instead focus their attention on other, pressing concerns.

Cloud service providers also manage the infrastructure used to use cloud services. This allows an organization to focus solely on their work and other tasks.

Benefits of Cloud Solutions: Global Presence

Cloud services such as Amazon’s AWS allows a company to deploy applications through multiple regions in the world with the touch of a mouse button. This combines well with the cloud’s ability to send the necessary processing power, storage, and bandwidth to any location from the closest physical resources available.

Benefits of Cloud Solutions: Competitive Advantage

While other companies are stuck with devoting significant resources to localized data sites, cloud computing allows you metaphorically dodge and weave through such blockades. Being able to call upon the resources you require globally at almost any location offers a huge advantage in the ability to work efficiently.