The convergence of the internet, data centers, and virtual environments has opened up an exciting way to run your business. It’s called cloud computing and successful businesses are finding this solution a perfect way to improve overall operations and service, while keeping costs at a minimum. Here’s how it works.
The cloud is essentially a data center hosted by a company that can deliver services over the internet to many users. It is becoming an increasingly popular way for firms to offer computer systems, software applications, and data storage to consumers and businesses. Services are fully managed by the provider on their servers, which are remote from the customer’s location. Access to the cloud is easy, requiring only a computing device that is internet or web-enabled. Common data centers may contain hundreds if not thousands of computers and include redundant or backup power supplies and data communication connections, environmental controls like air conditioning and fire suppression, along with high levels of access security. Cloud-based solutions require little or no software installation on the client’s device.
In computing, virtualization is the creation of a virtual (rather than actual) version of something, such as a hardware platform, operating system, or storage device. Technology to create virtual computing environments is key to lower cost computing. With virtualization, computer systems can run multiple software applications on the same computer without compromising security or system performance, and 100 percent of the computer’s system resources can be allocated across multiple applications, resulting in fewer computers to buy, manage, and service. Before virtualization, software systems had to be installed on separate computers due to individual application requirements, constraints, and system disruptions that occur during upgrades. With cloud computing, companies have the benefit of a private virtual business software environment that uses high performance computers and secure data centers at an affordable price—and it is all off site.
Rich with Benefits
Today’s business climate demands that companies run as efficiently as possible. Cloud computing allows even small businesses to enjoy the computing power that was once the domain of only very large companies, without compromising quality or customer service. By letting the cloud manage your software systems, customers reduce overall IT costs. The need to maintain an IT staff is reduced and in some cases eliminated as your cloud provider assumes the responsibility for ongoing maintenance, including operating system updates, security patches, network monitoring, and data backups. And large computer system investments and expensive software licensing programs are eliminated.
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