Managing your own data infrastructure is often time-consuming and expensive. Cloud computing allows you to use third-party resources whenever you need them to create applications, host websites, and leverage data analytics to gain a competitive advantage. This guide reviews what cloud computing is and how to tell if it’s something your business needs.
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How Does Cloud Computing Work?
Cloud computing is a distributed networking solution that works for hosting websites, blogs, and eCommerce sites of all sizes. It gives businesses the ability to store data and software on third-party servers, and access IT resources on demand. Many distributed teams now also use cloud computing software to help internal team members collaborate using distributed networking software. If your business lacks the budget to maintain expensive hardware or software and you’re looking to scale your operations, cloud computing is a solution to consider.
Who Is Cloud Computing For?
Cloud computing is for small, medium, and enterprise-sized businesses with rapidly changing computing needs. For example, a small startup is unlikely to use the same amount of cloud computing resources as an established multi-million dollar enterprise. Whether your business is seasonal and needs to adapt to busy periods and slowdowns, or you’re expecting to scale in the near future, cloud computing is a solution for any business that doesn’t have static computing needs to save, distribute, and retrieve distributed data using cloud computing technology.
How Cloud Computing Can Help Businesses
One huge perk of using cloud computing is that businesses using these services don’t need to employ highly paid IT staff. These savings can translate to thousands of dollars in revenue.
Small, medium, and enterprise-sized businesses that subscribe to cloud computing services can pay for additional storage and computing space as needed. This is just one way cloud computing can save your business money and offer more security over your data when hackers and cyber criminals try to access proprietary data.
The Highlights and Challenges
There is no perfect solution for everyone, so you need to find the best choice for your business needs. When considering whether cloud computing can help you reach your goals, consider these benefits and drawbacks.
What Are the Advantages of Cloud Computing?
Cloud computing allows you to use third-party infrastructure. This means that you don’t need to purchase and maintain your own servers or software. Businesses save money on powering equipment each month by only paying for what they use. In order to leverage the full advantages that cloud computing can offer, you can work with a managed service provider (MSP). These professionals, like the team at RevNet, can ensure you experience a seamless migration to cloud services. For example, if you’re not a cyber security expert, using an MSP means you can have peace of mind knowing your chosen provider has its own anti-virus measures in place to keep your data safe and secure.
The cloud needs for each client differs depending on their business and their needs. If your storage and bandwidth fluctuate unexpectedly, you’re able to upgrade or downgrade your plan, which can be seen as an increased advantage to buisnesses that are scaling quickly.
What Are the Disadvantages of Cloud Computing?
The primary disadvantage of using cloud computing services is that your data is in someone else’s hands. If their servers go down or they encounter a security breach, you could become impacted even though you have nothing to do with the event. For example, if your service provider is hit with a DDoS attack, your business and every other business connected to that cloud network may go down until your provider is able to bring services back up.
The Different Types of Cloud Computing
There are three types of cloud computing that businesses can choose from, and each has benefits and disadvantages. The right choice for you may depend on your budget, computing needs, and whether you’re anticipating steady growth in the future. Before you decide on a cloud computing service, you need to consider whether your business needs are static or changing due to an evolving market.
Public
Public clouds are managed by third-party providers and allow users access to public information through a secure source, such as a web browser. The primary benefit of using public clouds is that they’re more affordable and don’t require setting up a private network. The disadvantage is that you’re sharing server resources with other businesses, which could slow down your data transfer rates and impact your site’s response times.
Private
Private clouds are managed by businesses directly or through a third party that dedicates a single server to each business. Managing your data privately offers more control over who has access to the server you’re using and can boost your speed significantly. Servers are expensive to buy and maintain, however, obtaining a private cloud service costs you a lot more. You could also end up paying for speed and processing power that you’re not using.
Hybrid
Hybrid clouds offer a mix of public and private cloud networks. Your data is stored on a shared server, but you’re guaranteed a specific portion of the machine’s computing power and storage space. Businesses can upgrade their speed and storage capacity as they scale rather than committing to buying an entire server. You’re also able to add or remove functionality as you deem fit, so you can adjust as your business needs change.
What Are Some of the Uses of Cloud Computing?
Some of the ways you can use cloud computing include the following:
Data Management
You can store data, create backups and recover information after a data breach when you store it on a cloud. You’re also able to access and manage your data anywhere in the world as long as you have an internet connection.
Data Analytics
Smart and successful businesses understand how to leverage data to make better choices and target potential customers with products and services they truly want. You can use cloud computing to gain valuable insights from your data that you could miss out on otherwise.
Reduce Research and Development Costs
With the ability to scale your cloud infrastructure, you can create and test new applications using bandwidth on demand. This saves some businesses significant expenses when developing or implementing new software and technology.
Software as a Service
Delivering updates in a timely manner is important when you’re offering SaaS products and cloud computing is essential when you’re offering on-demand software.
Fast Media Buffering
Audio and video files require a lot of bandwidth, but potential customers are more likely to contact you if you connect with them through multiple forms of media. Cloud computing allows you to include these files on your site without reducing page load times or impacting the user experience negatively.
Cloud-native Applications
Your cloud computing provider offers vital applications that you can use to model your own programs and services.
How Revolution Networks Gives You the Competitive Edge
If you’re a small business looking to gain a foothold in your local market or need to scale your operations to gain an advantage over your competitors, Revolution Networks can help. We offer solutions that are tailored to your business operations, current needs, and goals for the future.
Contact us today to learn more about cloud computing technology and other ways we help businesses gain a competitive advantage!
