Cloud computing services generate nearly $400 billion in revenue annually, and there is little sign that this growth will stop.
For companies and their clients, cloud computing offers numerous benefits: it does not require expensive investments in equipment or local infrastructure, nor does it require technical knowledge. In this article, we tell you what you need to know about what cloud computing is and the advantages of implementing these solutions in your company.
What is cloud computing?
It is a model that allows on-demand access to a set of computing resources (for example, networks, servers, storage, applications, and services), which can be provisioned and released with minimal management effort or interaction.
Cloud computing providers provide everything we need to store, manage, and process data on the network. This eliminates dependency on hard drives, hardware, and other local resources.
How does cloud computing work?
Cloud computing allows companies to purchase the rights to use a certain storage capacity, which can be reduced or expanded as needed. This means that the services are scalable: we pay for what we use.
A central server (the company that provides cloud computing services) manages the communication between the cloud servers and our devices so that we can access the stored data whenever we need it.
Thus, companies that use cloud computing can scale faster and save on costs, since they do not need to purchase and maintain their data centers.
Types of cloud computing
The cloud services market is divided into three types of cloud computing: Software as a Service, Platform as a Service, and Infrastructure as a Service.
1. Software as a Service (SaaS)
SaaS is the main segment within the types of cloud computing. It has become the standard model for deploying business apps, such as customer relationship management (CRM) and enterprise resource planning (ERP) software.
2. Platform as a Service (PaaS)
In the PaaS model, companies can focus solely on developing applications and managing data, while the cloud service provider operates and maintains the infrastructure.
This, in addition to reducing the need for management and maintenance tasks, also helps eliminate or automate processes.
3. Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
The IaaS model provides access to virtualized hardware and resources such as servers, networks, storage, or virtual machines.
Here, providers are responsible for maintaining or developing the necessary platform, operating system, or software, while customers pay only for what they consume.
Advantages of cloud computing
Cloud computing is an increasingly popular option for businesses because it can save money, increase productivity, speed up processes, deliver better operational performance, and provide security.
These are some of the main advantages of cloud computing that are worth taking into account:
1. Enterprise security improvements
94% of companies say they have improved their online security after moving to the cloud. Because servers use data encryption, information is less accessible to hackers.
2. Greater efficiency in operations
80% of companies that implement cloud solutions report improvements in their operations. These positive changes begin fairly quickly, within a few months of adoption, and are seen in companies of all sizes.
3. Cost reduction and increase in productivity
82% of small and medium-sized businesses say they were able to reduce their operating costs after adopting cloud technologies. This is because companies do not have to purchase their equipment or set up a virtual infrastructure from scratch.
Additionally, 59% of companies that have adopted cloud computing solutions report improvements in the productivity of their IT teams.
4. Facilitates the adoption of remote work
Following the COVID-19 pandemic, many companies moved to a remote or hybrid work model, which comes with the challenges of not being in person.
Cloud computing can make the process of adapting to this type of work easier, as it gives us:
- Access to the information we need from any device.
- The ability to collaborate with other team members in real-time.
5. High availability that guarantees operational continuity
Cloud computing is very reliable compared to local network structures, this is because maintenance and security are a priority for the companies that provide these services.
To give you an idea, the average uptime of the main servers on the market is 99.9 to 99.999%. This means: between 8.45 hours and less than 1 hour of downtime per year.
As you can see, cloud computing is a whole world and has a lot to offer companies in all sectors. Furthermore, since there are different types and consumption is in demand, you can always configure the storage capacities to the needs of your company to get the best features at the best price.
