Cloud computing gives you access to vast amounts of data and has been credited with increasing the range of services that businesses can offer with greater flexibility and optimum use of IT resources.
According to this article, in the simplest terms, cloud computing means storing and accessing data and programs over the Internet instead of your computer’s hard drive.
There are many ways to use cloud computing to enhance the ability of companies to meet their business goals.
Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) and Platform as a Service (PaaS)
Instead of investing in massive hardware servers, a business can choose to load their software onto virtual servers (i.e., infrastructure) which act like your own servers but exist in the cloud (distributed over remote physical servers). Virtual infrastructure can give you nearly limitless storage and can be completely scalable as your needs grow.
Moreover, instead of purchasing your software, a business can choose software (i.e., platforms) in the cloud on virtual servers that can run on PCs in the office but can utilize much greater resources than the PC can provide.
Private and Hybrid Clouds
If your organization needs maximum flexibility, you can make us of a private cloud. These private clouds are really reserved space for your company’s own individual use on a system of remote servers accessed through a network like the internet. Private clouds can run on your own proprietary software. You may choose a hybrid cloud option as well, where some less demanding operations are run on a public cloud (shared servers) and more demanding operations are run on a private cloud.
Testing and Development
If your company is developing infrastructure, use of the cloud may be the best test and development environment. The cloud can give you large-scale computing power before having to invest in the physical assets, manpower and time to create your own server system. Cloud computing can tailor environments for your requirements as you need capacity.
Big Data Analytics
Retailers and suppliers are now extracting massive information from millions of consumers’ buying patterns. This helps them target their advertising or to provide more complete customer services. Furthermore, social networks are supplying vast raw material for analysis of behavior patterns that organizations are using to develop products and derive meaningful information. Then, the cloud provides the potential to collect and store these enormous data-bases.
File Storage
Similarly, the cloud can offer the possibility of storing all your working files. Additionally, without having to invest in enormous equipment expenditure. Storage expansion on the cloud costs much less that equivalent storage expansion on your own equipment.
Backup and Disaster Recovery
Cloud storage is a widely used solution for data backup and recovery in case of disaster. Using cloud storage means that your entire business system can be duplicated off-site. That way it can be recovered in the event of damage to physical equipment on your site. Also, Cloud backup offers the additional advantage of being secure and off-site. Your files will be backed up even if there is damage to your physical facility.
4 Corner can offer complete IT support from its offices in Fort Lauderdale, Miami and New York.
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