A Beginner's Guide To Cloud Computing

Wednesday, 14 September 2011 08:31 | Written by Russ Alman

cloud computing solutions offered by alternative marketing connections You've probably been hearing about "The Cloud" as a new way to use computer technology and applications, but you may not be clear what exactly this concept is and why you would want to use it. The following is a short description of the concept and it's benefits over traditional desktop computing.

What is The Cloud? The Cloud is a method of using hosted software and information services delivered over the Internet. If you have a Facebook account, Gmail account, or online access to your bank account, you are already using The Cloud!

Because most people and businesses now have high speed Internet access, it's become feasible to deliver software as a service (SAAS) through The Cloud. As a result of major industry players, such as Google, delivering cloud-based services, there has been an explosion of cloud applications available to businesses and consumers.

Think of The Cloud as the utility grid for computer services. Just like other utilities such as water and electricity, The Cloud provides an affordable public distribution network for information services.
What are The Advantages? Cloud computing has a number of key advantages over traditional desktop computing:
- Scalable. Software services are typically delivered based on the number of users subscribed to the service. This has an enormous advantage to small businesses. A business can purchase a monthly subscription for just the number of users they need. They can add and remove users at any time.
- Affordable. Unlike the traditional software distribution model, cloud-based services are usually cheaper for small businesses than larger ones. Software companies understand that if they provide inexpensive (or even free!) versions of their software to small businesses, as the businesses grow they will add users and become long-time users of their product.
- Lower Cost of Ownership. In traditional desktop computing, companies spend a great deal of money on computer hardware, network servers, and IT support. Cloud computing drastically reduces the cost of business computing by shifting cost of servers to robust, secure internet hosting.
- One Source of Data. Rather than distribute information to computers on a local network or synchronize data between multiple devices, The Cloud allows users to access data in real time from one data source. This improves reliability and consistency.
  
  In addition, an increasing number of cloud-based applications are able to share common information. For example, a customer management system can share contacts with accounting software. This eliminates duplicate entry of data on multiple systems, improving consistency and reducing labor costs.
- Platform & Computer Independent. Since most cloud-based applications run in a web browser, customers can use any type of computer they like. It no longer matters if you have a Mac, Windows, Linux or other operating system. Many cloud-based applications are also accessible from smart phones and tablets, so iPads, iPhones and Android devices are fully supported.
  
  In addition, since the software and data are stored online, it is possible to use multiple computers in multiple locations to access the same information. This is a huge plus for business people who use one computer at the office and another at home. Also, if a computer fails, simply plug in a new one, connect to the Internet, and reconnect to the cloud-based services.
- Simple To Maintain. As described above, in most cases, cloud-based applications use a web browser for their interface. The software is actually running on servers in The Cloud. This means there is no software to install, no updates to install, and no backups to perform. The software company providing the service takes care of all of this.
What are The Disadvantages? While many still have reservations about cloud computing, there are really very few disadvantages. However, it is important to be aware of the limitations.
- Reliable Internet Connection Required. If a business has limited access to the Internet or an unreliable internet connection, The Cloud may not yet be a viable solution. For many businesses, however, Internet connections are as reliable as any other public utility.
- Potential for Data Loss. If a software provider went out of business unexpectedly, it would obviously be catastrophic for a business if they could no longer access their data.
  
  This issue really is no different than with desktop-based software. Most SAAS providers offer a way to back up data to a local computer and also provide the ability to migrate data to other services.
Is it safe? One of the biggest concerns people have about cloud-based applications is data security. While security is certainly a valid concern, data is much safer in The Cloud than on a desktop computer, particularly for small businesses that do not have the resources to invest in elaborate data and network security systems.

If a connection to a cloud-based service is performed through a secure connection (look for the "lock" symbol next to the URL in the website address), data is being transferred through 128-bit encrypted or greater connections. This is the same level of security used by ATM machines.

Most security breaches in cloud computing are due to users not setting secure passwords, or by sharing passwords and accounts with others.

In addition, cloud computing is highly redundant. Data is stored on multiple servers and is backed up in real time, so if a server fails, another immediately takes over with no loss of data or functionality. This is much safer and more reliable than storing information on an in-house computer.

Thanks to high speed Internet access, cloud-based computing is now a viable, affordable solution for small business. This is why Alternative Marketing Connections focuses exclusively cloud-based solutions for its clients.