What Does Cloud Based Solutions Mean?

cloud based solutions

One of the new, hot terms in business technology is “cloud based solutions.” It is a service that has grown out of cloud technology and can be used to describe almost any type of web based application. Many businesses choose to use cloud based solutions over traditional programs because of their convenience and lower costs to run and maintain.

First Off, What is the Cloud?

Before you can understand what “cloud based solutions” means, you must first know what the cloud is. The cloud is, basically, a term used for something that is accessed through the internet. To end users, it seems like “the cloud” lives in the internet, but the data and programs are in fact stored on off-site servers and are simply accessed through the internet. This means that your computer and smart phone, for example, don’t need to use their own memory and storage capacity for anything saved in cloud applications. The data is stored off-site, and all you need is an internet connection to access it.

What Does Cloud Based Solutions Mean?

Now that we know the cloud refers to accessing data and programs that is stored off-site through the internet, we can move onto understanding cloud based solutions. Cloud based solutions are services and software that users do not need to download or store, but can access through the internet. There is no hardware or on-site infrastructure needed. The programs and all data is stored on off-site servers by the service provider. You do not ever need to store or update the programs on your own device.

There are a lot of common services you likely already use that you may not realize are cloud based solutions. A few examples of common cloud based programs are: Google Maps, Dropbox, and Salesforce. These applications are incredibly popular and easy to use for both businesses and individual users. For these three cloud based applications, all data is stored on servers at the cloud provider’s location. Not on-site storage space is needed to run them and save data in them.

What are the Benefits of Cloud Based Solutions?

The two main benefits to cloud based solutions are convenience and a low operating cost. With no on-site or on-device storage space needed, your business no longer needs an extensive network of computers and servers along with an IT staff to manage it. The more cloud based solutions your business uses, the less computing power you need on your devices. Theoretically, you could issue each employee a simple, cheap netbook alone if all of your applications were cloud based- all computing power would come from the service provider. Many businesses turn to cloud based solutions for the incredible up front and long term cost savings.

The other main reason cloud based solutions are so commonplace now is how convenient and easy they are to use and maintain. Most applications are accessed simply through a web page, so your profile and saved data is accessible from any machine. Another big convenience is that you are no longer personally responsible for the updates and IT needs that traditional networks have. If the software has an issue, you are not the one who needs to figure out how to fix it. The application provider has round-the-clock teams to address and fix any issues with their cloud based programs.

The Ultimate Cloud Based Solution

Desktop as a Service provides everything on the cloud, including the users’ desktops! This allows the user to have access to everything on their computer from anywhere in the world, anytime and from any device. This actually eliminates all hardware costs and IT support.

Have you considered switching over to cloud based solutions for your business? Most companies find it cheaper, more convenient to train new staff on, and easier to scale as they grow. Stop throwing money at your technical problems and invest in long term solutions with cloud based applications.

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What is Cloud Computing?

what is cloud computing

Most working professionals have heard of cloud computing, either as the rising workplace trend or as a hot term in tech. Many people who hear the phrase though find themselves asking, what is cloud computing?

In basic terms, cloud computing is storing and accessing information over the internet rather than from your device’s hard drive. The traditional way to store information is to have a computer with a hard drive and all information stored in your files there. In many offices, there is also an internal server where shared information can be stored and accessed by others in your organization. In contrast to this, cloud computing is having everything stored offsite and accessed by users through the internet.

Once you know what cloud computing is, you can start to imagine the number of benefits and conveniences it offers businesses of any size.

Benefits of Cloud Computing

 

Minimal Hardware Onsite

With cloud computing, you and your organization will need only minimal hardware onsite. No servers, no back-ups, not even sophisticated computers are needed for cloud computing. Devices hardly need any internal storage when you are computing 100% in the cloud.

Access Files and Programs Anywhere

Being able to access your saved data and programs from anywhere is invaluable. The convenience of not needing to bring a laptop to and from the office or adding files to a flash drive for every meeting seems difficult to imagine. With cloud computing, by simply logging on to any device you can pick up right where you left off. This means easier working at home, easier travel, and quicker set up for presentations when you can simply log in to the cloud on location to grab the files you need.

Lower Your Costs

For those money conscious business owners out there, all of this information is probably starting to look like some serious savings. With hardly any hardware and memory needed, your costs in equipment and servers just got cut down to a fraction. Not only that, but with only minimal hardware onsite, your IT staffing needs just went to down too. Cloud computing allows you to both save money and gain convenience.

Speed & Security

Cloud computing will give you both speed and security in your network. There is no lost time due to sitting around waiting to load a large file on an old computer, and no long phone calls with IT when your system goes down. With cloud computing you also have an automatic back-up to call on if you lose data due to a hack, natural disaster, or (the most common cause) human error.

Your productivity will skyrocket when time spent twiddling your thumbs in front of a slow computer is eliminated. With all data stored remotely, there is little to no computing power needed on your end. Say hello to both speed and security with cloud computing.

What is Cloud Computing?

To both small and large businesses, cloud computing is cost saving and convenient. Access your files from anywhere while still benefitting from heightened security and speed.
 

Are you looking for a better computing experience?

Learn More About CloudColorado, the Leading Cloud Provider in the Denver Metro Area

 

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IT Trends for Small Businesses

IT Trends for Small Businesses

As a small business, it can be difficult to stay up to date with current technology trends when you hardly have time to keep up with your clients and staff. Small business technology is taking off though as secure software is more affordable and as our culture overall embraces every-day tech. Keeping up with IT trends for small businesses could save you not only loads of time, but will save you from wasting money on obsolete technology that might be holding you back.

Cloud Computing for Small Businesses

Cloud computing has become the norm, and not just for large tech companies. It has been taking the small business sector by storm because of its convenience and affordable price point. Cloud computing allows small business owners to hand off IT to someone else and focus on their core business while offering the convenience of remote work and being able to access your desktop from any device. Cloud computing is also, contrary to popular belief, more secure and less expensive than managing your own traditional computer network in house.

Collaboration Tools

Tools like Slack, Wrike, and Skype for Business are becoming more affordable and essential for the modern small business. They are helpful for keeping your team all on the same page, organizing different conversations by project, and minimize the disconnect often experienced by remote teams.

As more small businesses have remote employees or work from home, collaboration tools are necessary to keep everyone in the loop. Cut out the incessant phone calls and emails by keeping communications in one central location.

Offsite IT Management

Most small business owners hardly have time to keep up with their clients, let alone have the time to manage an IT department. More companies have been using offsite IT companies as businesses are moving to the cloud and cyber attacks grow more common.

Small business are common targets for cyber attacks because they often use outdated systems or just don’t know a lot about securing their network and protecting against hacks. Using an offsite IT company has grown to be more cost effective than hiring experts in-house and it makes cyber security one less thing for small businesses owners to worry about.

Catering to Mobile

Did you know that more emails are opened on mobile devices than desktop computers every day? Catering to mobile devices is important not only for marketing and web design, but for payment methods as well.

With everyone having a smart phone in hand, mobile payments are a preferred way to pay and even process payments for small vendors. Users like it because they never have to pull out their card or directly give their financial information to the vendor, and vendors like it because they can get paid faster and not have to carry/deposit large amounts of cash.

IT Trends for Small Businesses

Implementing current technology in your small business wisely will save you money, not drain it. Bring your team to a more efficient and secure place with cloud computing, offsite IT management, and collaboration tools.

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