Cloud Computing for Business: The Many Benefits of Using Cloud Servers

cloud computing for business the many benefits of using cloud servers

A cloud server refers to a virtual server that runs on a cloud computing environment. This explains why cloud servers are commonly called virtual dedicated servers (VDS). Undoubtedly, there is plenty of buzz about cloud computing for business. If you’re interested in using cloud servers, here is some information about the benefits.

cloud computing for business

Cloud Computing for Business

One of the main advantages of using cloud servers is that you are free to modify the server software to suit your needs. In fact, you can even modify the operating system kernel, which is not possible with many other virtualization solutions.

Cloud servers tend to be more secure and stable. If you encounter a software problem, it will likely be isolated to the cloud computing environment. You won’t be harmed by the cloud servers of other people. The opposite is also true. Cloud servers also possess the best stability to cost ratio.

You will find that cloud servers are economically efficient. You will spend less on cloud servers and receive more resources and speedier performance. Essentially, your site will run faster if you have a cloud server rather than a traditional server at a comparative price.

Another advantage of cloud servers is that they scale quite well. This makes cloud servers especially beneficial for individuals who have needs that increase or decrease significantly from time to time. If you need to upgrade the disk space, CPU, or memory of your cloud server, it will be easy and affordable to do so.

Undoubtedly, there are many benefits of using cloud servers. For more information about the benefits of using cloud servers, don’t hesitate to contact us.

A Brief History of Cloud Computing

benefits of using cloud servers
cloud servers.

When you think of cloud computing, you may think of 21st-century ideas and technology. This recent article answers the question, “What exactly is this nebulous concept?”

The short answer is that it’s somewhere at the other end of your internet connection – a place where you can access apps and services, and where your data can be stored securely.

However, the concept of cloud computing has a long history that began as early as the 1950’s and 1960’s.

Understanding the history of cloud computing helps see how those early concepts made it what it is today.

The 50s

Massive mainframe computers came into being in the 50’s and were used in schools, large corporations, and even government organizations. Due to the size and expense of owning one of these machines, companies needed a solution to allow more than one user access. Creating “dumb terminals” so multiple people could access the giant mainframe computer was the beginning of modern-day virtualization, thus the beginning of cloud computing.

The 70s

As technology improved in the 70’s and mainframes became a thing of the past, people were able to have their own distinct computers, but still be connected via a network. This sharing of some of the resources while still being able to have each machine contain its own memory and processor were introduced by IBM as an operating system called VM. This took the idea of accessing a mainframe to a new level and allowed more than one computing environment to reside in one physical environment.

The 90s

The next big leap in cloud computing came in the 1990’s. With the commercialization of the internet, the average user was able to manage and use services online. As computers became more affordable for the average user, more and more people began having computers in their homes, though it wasn’t until the mid 90’s that technology advanced enough and became affordable enough for the masses. With sufficient bandwidth finally available, companies were finally able to connect their employees.

Y2K

The year 1999 saw many milestones, one of which was the introduction of the concept of enterprise applications via the web. In 2002, Amazon began providing several cloud-based services and by 2006 offered the first widely accessible cloud computing infrastructure. Cloud computing evolved quickly from grid computing to utility computing, to SaaS and finally to cloud computing. By 2009, with the introduction of web 2.0, Google and other companies began to introduce browser-based cloud applications.

Today

Cloud computing as it is today offers environments for companies that allow them to effectively employ their own clouds, either private or hybrid. They no longer rely on public clouds and are able to increase overall performance. IT teams now have increased visibility to the back-end of their system. Cloud computing has seen huge changes throughout history and will continue to evolve.

How to Use Cloud Computing

how to use cloud computing
Clouds and ladders.

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.

Contact us for a free network evaluation, emergency or just general consultation.

What is Software as a Service (SaaS)?

what is software as a service saas

If you’re like most people, you’ve glazed over the SaaS abbreviation many times online, assuming it’s some new high-tech thing no one’s informed you that you need to understand yet for work, so you haven’t made much effort to.

However, there’s a good chance you’ve been using SaaS for years in both your personal and professional life, and you just didn’t realize that the program you were using was also called SaaS. In fact, many people are just realizing that even email falls under the umbrella of cloud computing. Well, for that matter, both email and cloud computing also fall under the SaaS umbrella.

Software as a Service (SaaS) is a software distribution model in which applications are hosted by a vendor or service provider and made available to customers over a network, typically the Internet.

What is Software as a Service?

Basically, SaaS is any application or software program that a service provider or vendor hosts on remote servers. You either pay or get permission to access the platform through a network. In most cases, the network is the internet. So basically, any website that functions like a software platform or any software platform that functions remotely qualifies as SaaS. This includes:

– Email programs,
– Web builders,
– Web developer tools,
– Accounting programs,
– Sales tracking applications,
– Chat windows,
– Telemarketing and call center hubs,
– Payroll managing programs,
– CAD programs,
– Customer relationship management programs,
– Human resources management programs,
– Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Tumblr, and
– Many other cloud computing platforms

However, though there are several very popular personal SaaS platforms, many businesses use SaaS in their day-to-day business activities. Many people even learn these programs when training for careers in HR, Accounting, Finance and other fields. Most companies would rather use these convenient platforms rather than buying costly software and installing it.

However, paid services usually have limited licenses — like you might pay for 10 users or 20 devices, (one smartphone and one desktop for each employee using the software etc.).

SaaS platforms are ideal for many corporations and organizations as long as your IT manager can vouch that the program you plan to use offers the appropriate security level for your industry. Most free platforms have iffy security, so it’s important to keep that in mind.

With Most SaaS Systems

1) There’s no software to install
2) Payments are usually affordable and you can choose to pay monthly, quarterly or annually
3) You can upgrade as your company’s needs change
4) You can access your software using mobile devices, laptops and desktops; from any location that offers internet access
Some platforms even offer customization, meaning, you can make it look like part of your business. So if you had a retail store, for example, and were using the platform to process sales; it could feature your company logo, general color scheme and style. Contact us to learn more about SaaS solutions that might help your business run more smoothly today!

The Truth About Cloud Computing

the truth about cloud computing
Cloud Computing

You may have heard plenty of hype surrounding cloud computing, but now it’s time to delve into the truth.

A lot of the hype surrounding the cloud has to do with its future possibilities. Some experts are predicting the cloud to be used by virtually every consumer within the next few years. The logic being that even if they don’t have a personal cloud system, they’ll use a service that uses the cloud to some extent.

We don’t worry ourselves too much with the outlandish predictions concerning cloud computing. Instead, we focus on the cloud’s role in business today.

Cloud Computing for Small Business

The reality is that the cloud is helping thousands of small businesses with their daily operations. It levels the playing field by giving them access to the same features that large corporations enjoy.

With cloud computing, employees can access their business files from any device as long as it has Internet access. This is completely different from having to access files from an office computer. It frees up employees to work while they’re not in the office.

In addition, businesses don’t have to pay for data centers or security. Cloud computing service providers invest in these things and make the service available for hundreds of clients. This is called economies of scale, and it’s the reason why cloud computing is an affordable service even though the upfront costs for service providers are high.

So if you’re thinking about switching over to the cloud, don’t pay too much attention to 2020 predictions. Sure, it’s important to know that the cloud is expected to become even more popular and reliable. But all you really need to understand is how cloud computing will affect your business. If you’re looking to improve productivity, give your employees more opportunities to work, and secure your files, then cloud computing is the right solution for you.

To talk more about this, or anything else, please contact us. Thanks.