So really what is cloud computing? In simple terms it’s just a computer or computer services owned by someone else, running from a different location and being leased to you.  Despite many people’s understanding, it is not a new thing, it has been around for a long time. Webservers for example are technically cloud hosting servers and they have been in use for over 30 years now (Sir Tim Berners-Lee invented the World Wide Web in 1989). In fact some web hosting companies now call themselves cloud hosting companies.

So Cloud is really just a broader term used to cover a collective of computer services delivered over the internet.

Now for a more detailed technical dive in

Cloud computing is the on-demand availability of computer system resources, especially data storage and computing power. Rather than using traditional on-premises hardware, Cloud utilises remote datacentres and virtual servers to deliver high performance computing resources over the internet for you to use.

Social networking applications like Facebook and Instagram together with document sharing services such as Dropbox, that we all use every day, are delivered using Cloud services.

Public, Private or Hybrid Cloud Services

Private Cloud systems are for Government agencies, those concerned about security of sensitive data or subject to specific compliance and regulatory requirements. In essence they are setup for a specific set of users or for a specific purpose and are not open for anyone else to join.

A Public Cloud still offers high security and performance but is generally being set up as a service that can be subscribed to, or purchased as a service by an organisation. They are generally easier to implement and to manage than a Private Cloud and will be less expensive.

Hybrid Cloud, as the name suggests, is a bit of both and is commonly implemented and may be used by organisations who require the security and compliance of Private Cloud but choose to use Public Cloud for some of their services with the cost and scalability benefits it offers.

Your Cloud provider should engage with you to understand your specific needs before making recommendations as to which combination is best for you.

What is Cloud? A formal definition of Cloud Computing from Wikipedia is:

“Cloud computing is the on-demand availability of computer system resources, especially data storage (cloud storage) and computing power, without direct active management by the user. Large clouds often have functions distributed over multiple locations, each location being a data center. Cloud computing relies on sharing of resources to achieve coherence and economies of scale, typically using a “pay-as-you-go” model which can help in reducing capital expenses but may also lead to unexpected operating expenses for unaware users.”

We are here to help if you have any more questions you would like to ask about cloud computing, cloud data backups, cloud security and so on.

It’s becoming clearer that we’re going to have to get used to Covid restrictions being in place long term. More than ever, we need to do all we can to ensure that our people can work productively from home.

Cloud has enabled significant innovation in every sector through 2020 with Healthcare, Logistics and eCommerce adapting quickly to the new demands. Cloud-hosting and remote/virtual desktop technology allows you to work effectively from any location without the burden of maintaining and constantly upgrading your own infrastructure.

Of course, we’re all positive about the opportunities that lie ahead in 2021 and Cloud-hosting accommodates growth – you can add users, increase bandwidth and storage rapidly.

With instant, stable connectivity, industry-leading security and back-ups and expert local support, IT really does become an asset to your business.