Cloud computing has revolutionized the way businesses use computing. Hardware is no longer purchased and operated in-house. Instead, models of XaaS (“X-as-a-service”) are used: IT services are leased based on virtualized hardware and operating systems. Cloud computing includes the storage and processing of data and the hosting of applications and interfaces. Therefore, the advantages of cloud computing are numerous, even if this solution also has some disadvantages.
For many companies, the main benefits of cloud computing are economical. Fortunately, there are many other benefits that we will discuss below. However, it is still necessary to weigh the pros and cons before turning to the Cloud. When it comes to economic benefits, it’s important to distinguish between using a public cloud and using your own private Cloud. The first can be used immediately, without additional costs, while the second requires an investment to set up its structures.
For most businesses, technology is a means to an end. Actual products and services are not technical. For these companies, it is therefore essential that the technology is invisible. The Cloud makes this possible. Using cloud computing allows a business to pay less attention to the technical aspects. Thus, all efforts are directed towards the essential tasks of the company.
The result is better products and services and greater efficiency. Much of the resources used contribute directly to success. Imagine a large bakery chain. It may need IT resources for logistics, sales, marketing, etc. Instead of managing its servers or data centers, it can use cloud resources. Technology companies are the exception to the rule. It may be interesting for them to create and operate their structures. But even in this scenario, private cloud solutions remain attractive.
The use of cloud computing allows greater flexibility. The critical IT infrastructure is immediately available and can be adapted as needed. This makes it possible to react immediately to opportunities and risks. Traditionally, investments in a company’s IT infrastructure lead to a new technological environment. This remains in place for an extended period because new investments are expected to take advantage of new technological developments.
Cloud computing makes it possible to react more quickly to changing conditions. Companies can adapt to the market without planning, approving, and creating infrastructures. With the elimination of these time-consuming and costly processes, technology directly contributes to implementing the strategy.
The use of cloud computing often helps to reduce costs. Indeed, it is no longer necessary to acquire and operate an IT infrastructure. Only “thin clients” should be provided to employees. In most cases, any modern device with a web browser is sufficient. Saving own hardware goes hand in hand with a reduction in IT personnel. In addition, the focus is no longer on maintenance and network technology but more direct support for employees.
Cloud services adapt to the actual load. It is therefore no longer necessary to keep excess capacity in-house. Whether it’s renting additional servers or scaling existing servers, it’s all done automatically or with a button. The use of cloud computing is particularly interesting for young companies. Being able to save on their equipment reduces the start-up capital required. A start-up initially leases infrastructure and services on a small scale. As the business grows, the services purchased are expanded.
Deployed on a large scale, cloud computing improves sustainability. It is more efficient to share large centralized cloud data centers than to operate individual data centers for businesses.
More extensive data centers have better waste heat management and onsite power generation options. Take the example of data centers in Iceland that use geothermal energy. It is also easier to recycle old equipment when purchasing new hardware. In general, the use of virtualization reduces the need for individual equipment.
Security and data protection are essential issues in our digital society. Using the Cloud is often advantageous in this respect. However, this idea is challenging for many people to grasp because the Cloud is “invisible.” Where exactly is the data? From an objective point of view, the Cloud offers many security and data protection advantages. As always in IT, there is no miracle solution. The benefits of this technology require particular expertise and attention, especially when it comes to cloud security.
Data has become a coveted commodity. Criminals seek to steal data to use or sell. In addition to the people, they are directly affected. The threat of stiff fines and legal consequences is real, but the loss of customers, images, and trust associated with data leaks and hacks is often worse. Large cloud service providers use dedicated resources to protect against hackers and other attacks.
They have the latest technologies and their departments with high-level specialists, a level that any small company cannot reach. Another advantage of using the Cloud is the standardization and certification of the systems used. It must be certified if you build your infrastructure, which is time-consuming and expensive. This complicates subsequent adjustments to the system, as the certification process may need to be repeated.
Since data is invisible, protecting it is usually problematic. The company is always responsible for protecting the information it generates. The best approach is to build data protection into structures from the start. It’s a laudable goal, but this task may be too much for a single company.
It’s easier to rely on well-established cloud systems. Cloud service provider systems are certified to official standards. Providers are doing everything they can to comply with the rules with the help of their legal department and experts in technology and security. Thus, a high degree of reliability is guaranteed.
In the IT field, the term “disaster recovery” refers to a rescue process: how to return to the initial state after a disaster? Disaster recovery is often easier, faster, and cheaper with the Cloud. What was only possible for large companies is now accessible to the general public. Cloud providers rely on globally distributed systems. The data and services are available in multiple copies.
This means that there is no “single point of failure,” i.e., no Achilles heel that would bring the whole system down. So even if a server or data center fails, there is usually no permanent loss of data or capacity. The inherent scalability of cloud services allows rapid response to failures. The backups integrated into the infrastructure make it possible to restore the data.
In addition to the economic, organizational, and regulatory aspects already mentioned. Ultimately, the Cloud relies on technological progress. Thus, the technologies used determine the opportunities offered.
Managing Big Data poses severe challenges to organizations. Because when we talk about Big Data, we are talking about large volumes of data. It can quickly reach petabytes (thousands of terabytes) or more. Cloud computing offers considerable advantages. Collecting, storing, processing, and retrieving large amounts of data requires a specially adapted infrastructure. It is costly for a company to build it.
It makes more sense to use existing XaaS solutions from prominent vendors in many cases. One of the characteristics of Big Data is that large amounts of data are often added in a short time. It is, therefore, essential to be able to upgrade the storage and calculation capacities easily. This is usually only possible with cloud solutions.
In addition to programmers and project managers, current development projects call upon another category of specialists: “DevOps” engineers. The primary goal of DevOps is to provide and operate the structures needed to develop and run the software. The use of Cloud technologies contributes to this. The development of cloud computing has been accompanied by the fusion of local development and deployment approaches, especially with container-based virtualization. The software is developed locally and then runs in a shared cloud system.
The primary technologies are similar in both cases. However, with the Cloud, the approaches become more powerful and, above all, scalable. Passionate developers often want to use the latest technologies for their projects. Previously, the obstacle was that the required structures first had to be put in place within the company. This obstacle largely disappears with the use of the Cloud. This makes it easier for businesses to stay up to date. An attractive advantage that accelerates development projects and attracts ambitious talent.
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