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<p>Everyone is talking about cloud computing these days and
for good reason. The cloud is revolutionizing how computing power is generated
and consumed. Cloud refers to software and services that run on the Internet,
instead of locally on your computer. When tech companies say your data is
backed up “in the cloud,” it has nothing to do with those white fluffy things
in the sky. Your data isn’t actually up in the cosmos or floating around in
space. It has a terrestrial home. It’s stored someplace - lots of places,
actually - and a network of servers find what you need, when you need it, and
deliver it.</p>
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<p>Cloud computing, if done properly, can make your business
much more efficient. However, a cloud solution is only as good as the quality
of the research, the implementation, and the follow-through. So, how do you
know if moving your business applications and data to the cloud is the right
answer for you? There are few things you need to know about the cloud
first.&nbsp;</p>
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<p><strong>What
exactly is the cloud?</strong>&nbsp;This is a tricky question in and of
itself. Just like the clouds in the sky, there are many clouds when it comes to
technology. In the simplest terms, cloud computing means storing and accessing
data and applications over the Internet instead of your computer's hard drive.
It is using a network of computers to store and process information, rather
than a single hard drive.</p>
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<p><strong>Public
vs. Private vs. Hybrid?</strong>&nbsp;Not all clouds are the same. You
have options with public clouds, private clouds, as well as hybrid clouds.
Choosing the right options for your business comes down to the needs and the
amount of control you would like to have.</p>
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<ul><li>Public clouds: owned and operated by a
third-party cloud service provider, which deliver their computing resources
such as servers and storage directly through the Internet. With a public cloud,
the hardware and software is owned and managed by the cloud provider. You
access these services and manage your account using a web browser.</li></ul>
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<ul><li>Private clouds: unlike the public cloud, the
private cloud is used by only one organization. A private cloud is one in which
the services and infrastructure are maintained on a private network. Some
companies also pay third-party service providers to host their private cloud.</li></ul>
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<ul><li>Hybrid clouds: combine public and private
clouds, which allows data and applications to be shared between them. Data and
applications can move between public and private clouds as needed, offering
better flexibility and more deployment options.</li></ul>
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<p><strong>HaaS or Saas?</strong>&nbsp;Just
like there are different types of clouds, when it comes to cloud computing,
there are also different types of cloud services. Most commonly used cloud
services fall into two categories: HaaS and SaaS.&nbsp;</p>
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<ul><li>Hardware as a Service, or HaaS, basically
refers to leased computing power and equipment from a central provider. The
HaaS model is very much like other hardware service-based models. Clients rent
or lease, rather than purchase. a provider's hardware.&nbsp;</li></ul>
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<ul><li>Software as a Service, or SaaS, utilizes the
Internet to provide applications to its users, which are managed by a
third-party. Unlike HaaS, this is a web-based model where software providers
host and maintain the servers and databases eliminating hardware investment
costs.</li></ul>
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<p><strong>Is
it safe and reliable?</strong>&nbsp;As mentioned before, cloud computing is
the way of the future. We know it is easy and inexpensive – but, is it safe and
reliable? What good is saving money and switching to a cloud solution if it
will bring additional risks to my business? Most cloud service providers offer
encryption features such as service-side encryption to manage your own
encryption keys. So, in reality, you ultimately decide how safe your solution
is. As far as reliability goes, in many cases, cloud computing can reduce the
amount of downtime to seconds. Since there are multiple copies of your data
stored all throughout the cloud, there is no single point of failure. Most data
can usually be recovered with a simple click of the mouse.&nbsp;</p>
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<p>In the end, though, companies shouldn’t make decisions
entirely based on what they are comfortable with or what is cheapest. What
should be most important is deciding whether or not transitioning into the
cloud will work for your business.</p>
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<p>To cloud, or not to cloud? The choice is all yours. Do
your research and ask the right questions.</p>
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