What is cloud computing ?

What is cloud computing ?

The technology moves more and more into the cloud.  It is not just a fad, the shift from traditional software models to Software as a Service has steadily gained momentum over the past 10 years.

Looking ahead, the next decade of cloud computing promises even more opportunities to collaborate from anywhere with mobile devices.

What is cloud computing ?

What is Cloud Computing?

Cloud computing is essentially a kind of outsourcing of software, data storage and processing. Users access applications and files by signing in from any device that has an Internet connection.

Information and programs are hosted by third parties and are not on the user's hard drive but in a global network of secure data centers.

This saves computing power, facilitates sharing and collaboration, and enables secure mobile access, no matter where the user is or what device is being used.

Cloud computing is a more efficient way to deploy computer resources.  In cloud computing, software and service environments are based on subscriptions-users pay a monthly fee instead of buying licenses.

Software and platforms are maintained by providers and continually updated to ensure maximum performance and security.

Computing power is not central, but decentralised, so users can leverage additional capacity when business issues arise.  Multiple people can access a shared program or file and collaborate in real time from multiple locations.

Younger employees have a hard time imagining that employees could only access work files, messages, and systems connected to other computers on the network by physical cables from a single terminal in the office in a given time.  

The software had to be manually installed on each computer.  Company data was stored on large machines in a room or cabinet that had to be well ventilated to prevent overheating.  The loss or failure of a single device can be catastrophic.

Cloud computing has optimized or eliminated many previous Office features:

Large server companies no longer need to place server benches in well-ventilated cabinets or equipment rooms.

• Dedicated in-house IT support - 

Technology talents continue to be valued, but companies no longer need corporate staff to troubleshoot their hardware and software systems.  Cumbersome tasks such as updating computers one by one have been eliminated.

• Data Storage Devices - 

Employees do not need to back up data on hard drives, discs, or external devices manually.

• Limited geographic access - 

Employees and managers are no longer tied to the office.  You can be just as productive on the move or remotely as in the corporate office.  Access to processes and information is not tied to a specific geographic location.

• Outdated Standard Software - 

Software updates required significant spending every few years to buy the latest version of important programs.  Applications had to be manually installed and maintained on each device.  

Only the largest companies could hire developers to create custom software.  Bugs and security issues may not be resolved for years.

• Loss of Information - 

Managers feared that in an emergency or natural disaster, all company records could be deleted.  Data stored locally on office computers is prone to loss or failure.  However, data stored in the cloud is protected multiple times.

• Duplicate Document Versions -

Employees no longer need to e-mail files because one person makes changes and different versions of work products are stored locally on multiple devices.  

Cloud-based shared files are always up to date. Colleagues can be sure that they all see the same and work with the same information.

In the Traditional business applications have always been complicated and expensive. The amount and variety of hardware and software required to run them was tremendous. 

Businesses needed a whole team of experts to install, configure, test, run, secure, and update.

If you spread that effort across dozens or hundreds of apps, it's easy to see why in the past, only the largest companies with the best IT departments received the custom solutions they needed.  

Small and medium businesses did not stand a chance.  Advances in cloud computing have changed this.

Cloud computing: 

Cloud computing eliminates the headaches associated with storing your own data by not managing hardware or software.  This is the responsibility of an experienced provider like Salesforce.  

The shared infrastructure works like a utility: you only pay for what you need, upgrades are automatic, and scaling is easy.

Cloud-based apps can run in days or weeks and cost less.  With a cloud app, you simply open a browser, log in, customize the app, and start using it.

Why cloud computing is better:

• Accessible from anywhere - 

applications and data are not tied to a device. They are accessible from any location and allow remote teams to collaborate in real time.

• Flexible and Scalable - 

Cloud-based applications are infinitely customizable.  It's easy to increase performance, storage, and bandwidth as users' needs change.

• Affordable - 

Companies pay only for what they consume, usually per month per seat.  There is no hardware that consumes 24/7 space and consumes power.

• Hassle-free updates - 

The web-based software is constantly updated.  The provider takes care of maintenance, backups and troubleshooting.

Fast service is delivered on demand through a global network of secure data centers that are constantly updated to provide maximum efficiency and performance.

• Safe - 

Information is not prone to flooding, fires, natural disasters, or hardware outages in one place.  Security logs and infrastructure are constantly being analyzed and updated to meet new threats.

Businesses run all kinds of apps and many things in the cloud, such as:  B. Customer Relationship Management (CRM), human resources, accounting and much more.

Salesforce was a pioneer in delivering cloud-based software.  Some of the world's largest companies have moved their applications to the cloud with Salesforce after thoroughly testing the security and reliability of our infrastructure.

A word of caution: 

As cloud computing becomes more popular, thousands of businesses simply rename their non-cloud products and services as "cloud computing." 

As you evaluate cloud offerings, think deeper and remember that you need to buy and manage hardware and software what you are looking for is not really cloud computing but a bad cloud.