You might’ve heard the words cloud computing roaming around, but what exactly is it? Basically it’s an umbrella term for computing services delivered via the internet. These services include data storage and backup, servers, software, etc. Clouds are everywhere, and you’ve probably been using them without even realizing it. Your online document editing, video streaming apps, even your online games use data backed up by some sort of cloud.
Now, small businesses are taking advantage of this growing technology. Research shows that by 2020, 83% of the enterprise workload will be in the cloud. From the creation of apps to corporate phone services, cloud computing makes running a business smoother and easier. Whether you’re already using a cloud for your business or you’re looking into starting one, it’s important to do your own research on what fits your company best.
Types of Clouds
There are three different cloud-service options, each with their own benefits and drawbacks.
- Public cloud: Public clouds are owned and operated by a third party and built on an external platform, so you wouldn’t have to worry about doing anything in house.This is a great option if you want to save money and time.
- Private cloud: A private cloud would be used exclusively by your business and is maintained by a private network. Your cloud can be located in house or you could use a third-party to host it, but it would usually be managed by your own IT team. If you want more control and specialization of your cloud and have the resources, a private cloud could be worth looking into.
- Hybrid cloud: Hybrid clouds are a combination of a public and private cloud and uses technology that allows data to be shared between the two. For instance, some companies might use the private cloud for more confidential information such as customer accounts and a public cloud for the rest.
Benefits for your Business
One of the biggest advantages of cloud computing is that you can access it whenever you’re connected to the internet, which is perfect for those on-the-go jobs. For small businesses in particular, it can be a great next step to help push the growth of your company and its efficiency.
Cheaper. Since everything is stored through the internet, cloud computing takes away the need for expensive hardware and data centers.
Faster. Speed is great, especially when it comes to small businesses. A lot of cloud computing services are on demand, so with a click of a button even large amounts of computing can be done within minutes.
More reliable. With cloud computing comes less worrying about data retrieval and in-house disasters. As long as you have the internet, you have access to all of your files.
If you’re in the mid-Missouri area, Socket offers a cloud-based phone service that is custom-tailored to your business. At the heart of all successful cloud computing is a strong and fast internet connection, so be sure to check out the different plans Socket offers to help you get started.