Cloud computing is about accessing IT infrastructure via the Internet. Servers, applications, data management, security—you don’t need to own and maintain all of this anymore. With cloud computing, you can basically rent the capacity you need rather than buy and maintain the equipment.
Conceptually, cloud computing works like a utility. You don’t own your own power generator, you just pay for the power you use. With cloud computing you don’t own your own IT infrastructure, you just pay for the capacity you require.
Your infrastructure is maintained in data centers. These maybe large and anonymous, such as when you use free online applications like Facebook, or they may be managed by a provider that offers software or infrastructure as a service.
Cloud computing offers many advantages for small businesses that adopt the right infrastructure.
For business owners and management, perhaps the most appealing aspect of cloud computing is that it's a streamlined, outsourced service. The headaches and time required to manage IT internally can be minimized.
Cloud computing allows your small businesses to access more robust and sophisticated technology than you can maintain on-site, but at the same time you only have to pay for what you use.
You access a data center with 24x7 monitoring and support, multiple levels of security, and redundant data protection solutions. To have this level of IT on-premise, it would probably take almost as much time to manage as actually running your business.
Cloud computing, by its nature, also increases opportunities for remote access. With your infrastructure coming in via the Internet, work can be done anywhere there is secure Internet access.
It is now possible for a small business to be without on-site IT infrastructure, and to have most if not all applications hosted. With cloud computing, the only computer technology you have to deal with is the personal computer itself.
Cloud computing services hosted in a data center and delivered via the Internet include:
The advantage of saving time by handing over IT infrastructure to a third party also means giving up some control. Suddenly, your business network is simply “out in the cloud”. This can be disconcerting.
It is not advisable to turn over critical business systems to an unknown entity just because it’s cheap. For business cloud computing, you need to find a service provider that has strict service level agreements and operates a data center where real people can answer your questions and resolve issues.
Despite the nebulous feel of it all, know where your data is. Where are these data centers, and how are they managed? What are the security measures and data protection redundancies? Who can you talk to when you have a problem?
If you can’t answer these questions then a cloud computing service may be more worry than it’s worth.
The other primary consideration is Internet access. Make sure you have the bandwidth, security and support so that the critical portal to your business network remains open.
As it becomes time to refresh technology infrastructure, more and more small businesses are turning to the cloud computing model so they can access robust, secure solutions without having to make a capital investment. For some solutions, it is likely that Internet access with “utility” payment will become the norm.
For many small businesses, the advantages of IT are mixed: is some ways it saves time and money, but in others it creates extra work and unforeseen expenses.
Cloud computing may hold a reliable promise where IT becomes a fully usable tool. You don’t have to take the time to know how the the tool is built and maintained to be able to use it to make your work easier.
Written By: Scott Yoder