Cloud computing is an old concept that has been in operations for around two decades. It offers several advantages in terms of costs and process efficiencies. However, several businesses are yet to realize their true potential and continue to operate without it. Companies that invest in cloud, mobility, and big data are increasingly witnessing better profits and growth.
Tech-savvy leaders and businesses that realize the importance of these technologies continue to enjoy the many benefits they offer. There is an increased scope for efficiencies, customer satisfaction, and profit margins through these technologies. In this article, we will take a look at what cloud computing is and its benefits.
What is cloud computing?
In recent years, the popularity of cloud computing is on the rise. The advent of technology has led to an increased amount of data that gets generated each day. It is thus becoming difficult for businesses to store that data and other information of their regular servers. The cloud is the best solution to this problem. Having been around for a long time, people realize its importance only today.
Cloud computing is similar to web-based email clients. It gives users the chance to browse all the features and data of the system with no need for downloading it in their systems. It is everywhere in our lives, and we are using it without realizing it. Applications like Google Drive, Gmail, and Facebook are all examples of cloud computing services.
Users of these services send their personal information to a cloud server where it remains stored. They can access it over and over again in the future. Besides being helpful for personal use, cloud systems are a lot more beneficial for businesses that need to store large amounts of data securely.
Benefits of cloud computing
There are several benefits of cloud computing. We take a look at each of them in detail.
- Security
It is one of the biggest concerns for any organization looking to adopt the technology. One of the questions arises that how can the data remain secure when it is not on-site. If it can get accessed remotely, there is also a possibility of hackers doing the same. However, the security offered by cloud systems will be anytime better than the one at on-site systems.
When it comes to the systems and networks of organizations, there are several concerns. Security is only one of them. It is no longer surprising that data theft can often happen internally by people who are privy to it. This makes it more sensible to host data off-site with complete security. In the meanwhile, check out how cloud computing course is giving their best to make professionals understand how security is important in cloud service.
- Cost savings
Many organizations remain watchful about the costs needed to make a switch. Besides the initial setup, there will also be regular costs that become a concern for businesses. However, the advantages of switching to the cloud are plenty, and they often outweigh the disadvantages. When businesses shift to the cloud, they experience saving time and money due to easy access to data.
Most cloud service providers have a pay as you go plans that enable businesses to pay for only what they use. This makes it clear that there is no disadvantage to spending money on cloud services. The same remains applicable for other services like data storage.
- Mobility
Everyone loves information at their fingertips, and mobile apps make that possible. Cloud computing allows users to access business data on their smartphones. This makes it easier for employees who work remotely to remain in the loop of all the happenings. Additionally, it is also beneficial for contractors and off-site staff of any business. For any smart organization, one of its priorities is to avail cloud services for the benefit of employees.
- Flexibility
Several issues can hamper the smooth operations of any business. Issues related to data, hosting, and others can consume a lot of time. If this is the case for businesses, it becomes difficult for them to reach their goals and offer better service to their customers. When they outsource the work to a reliable service provider, businesses can take care of their operations much better.
Cloud services offer a lot of flexibility, like bandwidth support. If it gets done in-house, it will be time-consuming and cost a lot of money. On the whole, it can affect the bottom line of any business.
- Collaboration
A major focus area for any business should be collaboration among the team members. If everyone is not in sync, it can become difficult to operate as a team. With the help of cloud computing, it becomes easier for team members to collaborate and share resources. Collaborative social spaces also help in increasing engagement between members across big organizations.
- Insight
Data holds a lot of value in today’s times, and the businesses that have the best access to it hold a clear advantage over others. Hundreds and thousands of data points can help organizations understand their audience and tailor their offerings according to their needs. With the help of an effective cloud computing solution, it becomes possible to extract valuable information from an enormous amount of data. It is also possible to create a tracking mechanism and create relevant reports to analyze performances throughout an organization. Businesses can use this information to improve their process efficiencies for achieving organizational goals.
- Quality control
The success of a business depends a lot on its reporting mechanisms. With cloud computing solutions, it becomes possible to store all reports in one place so that all the stakeholders can access the information. This ensures data consistency, reduction of human errors, and efficient record-keeping. If teams work on multiple files of a single document, there can be a lot of inconsistencies.
- Software updates
Nothing can be more frustrating for an employee who has lots of work but has to wait for system updates. Cloud solutions help with automatic updates, allowing continuity of operations. They also reduce the need for the IT staff to dedicate their time to these activities. With the saving of resources, organizations can use their IT staff for other productive activities.
- Edge over competition
Despite the popularity of cloud computing, many businesses are yet to adopt it. Organizations that make use of cloud applications hold an advantage over others that do not. They can get past the learning curve and prepare themselves to enjoy the benefits, as compared to others who haven’t yet adopted cloud solutions.
- Loss of data
Without any cloud solution, a business will have to store its data on local computers. However, if there any trouble with these systems, it can lead to data loss. Issues like malware and virus attacks can cause system errors. With cloud solutions, it becomes possible to store all the data safely. All you need is a stable internet connection to access the information from a smartphone or laptop from any corner of the world.
- Sustainability
All business needs to operate sustainably and contribute their bit towards the environment. Cloud solutions are environmentally-friendly and result in fewer carbon footprints. They support virtual services rather than physical hardware, which brings energy efficiency and reduction of paper waste.
How to learn cloud computing
If you want to learn about cloud technology and its applications, take up cloud courses and enhance your skills by taking up AWS training at India’s leading e-learning platform like Great learning. They also provide free courses on cloud computing, AWS, and other technologies at Great Learning Academy.
