Cloud computing is the latest technological buzzword doing rounds in the business world these days. But what exactly is the cloud computing? In simpler terms, cloud computing is a utility model, using which small and large organizations can host their data centres, processes and applications online via internet against pay for use basis.
Cloud computing is a model for enabling ubiquitous, convenient, on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources (e.g., networks, servers, storage, applications and services) that can be rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management effort or service provider interaction.
Traditionally, the only way organizations would access software was through installing it on their computing desk or via intranet. However, with advent of cloud computing, firms can now log on to applications through a network connection from anywhere, anytime. That is because; all these applications and websites are hosted on a cloud server rather than the physical server on the company site. It usually works on a sharing of virtual and/or physical resources, instead of deploying a singular software and hardware.
Mr Omar El Akkad, in his article Outsource IT Headaches to the Cloud published in The Globe and Mail says, “As more consumers and businesses adopt tools such as smart phones and tablets, the ability to host data in the cloud and access it from just about anywhere on the planet is quickly becoming vital." Through cloud computing, organizations can now leverage information technology services, which were previously not easily accessible to them and reach out to more customers.
Now that we have understood the definition of cloud computing, let explore it in a little more depth and also further analyse how cloud computing can reap benefits for your business.
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