What is cloud computing?
Cloud computing is a means of securely storing your company files, data, applications and emails away from your business premises in one central off-site location or data centre.
Rather than sitting on a server in your office, your important company information is hosted out in “the cloud” (or data centre) where is it managed and maintained by your hosting company, and accessed remotely by you and your staff using an internet connection.
It is dependent on good internet connectivity so a backup line, or a leased line would be recommended to ensure faultless continuation of service.
Cloud computing helps to spread the cost of your IT. With a cloud solution, you are effectively renting server space from your supplier so there is no need to purchase and maintain expensive servers for your business, and no need to buy a server hardware warranty. It means that capital expenditure and maintenance costs are dramatically lower than with a traditional on-premise solution and the cost is effectively shifted onto a monthly payment basis, making cloud a more affordable solution for many businesses.
Cloud computing also offers a more flexible approach to IT. Employees can access company data from anywhere with an internet connection, meaning they can work remotely, no matter where they are in the world.
It also works to reduce risks by ensuring that your data is safely backed up away from your office meaning a seamless continuation of service in the event of fire, flood, theft or equipment failure.
With cloud computing, you’re pretty much covered for all eventualities.