What Is The Cloud? And Why You Should Be Paying Attention

July 14, 2021 12:46 pm

You tend to hear the phrase “cloud services” bounced around often these days, and for many good reasons. Cloud computing and storage solutions have unlocked new opportunities and enhanced productivity for many businesses and organizations across the globe. 

So, today, come along with us as we journey up through the cloud. We’ll explore the cloud, how cloud computing works, and a few examples of top cloud services. We’ll also go over how migrating services to the cloud can significantly benefit your company.

What Is The Cloud?

Essentially, the cloud allows your business to access computing services without having your own physical data center infrastructure. Everything you upload into the cloud is stored in a vast, off-site, and secure data center, possibly thousands of miles away. 

This data system of computing allows businesses across the country and even the world to tap into potentially costly and technically demanding computing services with a fraction of the resources or budget necessary to bring those same capabilities on-site.

Examples of Cloud Services

Cloud services come in many different forms, offering a vast library of digital capabilities for personal and business use. For the most part, cloud computing and storage services can be broken down into three main categories.

3 Main Types of Cloud Services

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)

Out of the three primary forms of cloud services, IaaS is the most common. IaaS platforms allow users to connect to digital infrastructures, servers, network operations systems, and access to data storage. IaaS services are a good fit for small to medium-sized businesses. They allow these businesses access to off-site servers and computing power without having to have physical data centers or sophisticated (often complicated) hardware on-site.

Platform as a Service (PaaS)

PaaS services are typically tailored to those within application or software development. These services, such as AWS Elastic Beanstalk and Google App Engine, provide users with off-site, virtual tools that can be used without the development process.

Software as a Service (SaaS)

SaaS service providers offer access to high-end software services without having to install the software locally. Often these services can be accessed directly from your computer’s browser. SaaS services are platforms that you typically use every day that you may not even know about, such as Gmail, Slack, Microsoft 365, Salesforce, Google Apps, and Amazon Web Services.

Why You Should Pay Attention To Cloud Services

Bernard Marr of Forbes predicts that throughout and by the end of 2021, more and more workers will be working on Virtual Cloud Desktops, whether from home or in-office. With advancements within cloud computing and secure storage alongside AI-learning capabilities, cloud services are set to become more efficient than ever, offering businesses, small and large, flexibility and the opportunities to harness complex computing systems virtually anywhere.

Does your business wish to take advantage of cloud computing and storage services? Be sure to reach out to M&H Consulting today, and we’ll work through a plan to migrate select services to cloud-based platforms, boosting your organization’s overall performance, productivity, and efficiency.

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