Is Cloud Computing for the Birds?
There’s been much talk and twitter about Cloud Computing, Virtualisation and Software-as-a-Service, but what’s it all about and what are the benefits? Over the past few years we have seen a significant move away from traditional desktop software applications to Cloud Computing and this trend is set to continue with many leading market analysts forecasting strong growth in Cloud Computing for the foreseeable future.
Many of us are familiar with how an office network runs: typically a Server nestled away in its own room, to which all the desktop Clients and printers are networked. In most cases, the Server has a large hard disk which stores all the company information (Word documents, spreadsheets, application files etc) and some form of automated back-up device like a tape or DVD drive.
Cloud Computing is very similar to this, the main difference being that instead of the Server being locked away in its own room, in the same building as you, it is located in the facilities of a Hosting company (a completely separate company) in a different location, often hundreds of miles away. Instead of the network being accessed over your local network, it is accessed over ‘The Cloud’ which is really just another term for the Internet.
There are Public and Private ‘Clouds’ but for reasons of simplicity we’re not going there!
With us so far?
Computing has now come full circle from when it first started. We used to have ‘dumb’ terminals attached to a mini or mainframe computer, until the introduction of the PC. With Cloud Computing, we are going back to having a central Server with attached Client computers acting as terminals, but with Cloud Computing the power is distributed; unlike the early minis and mainframes which did all the data processing (with peaks in demand leading to noticeable degradations in response times) the load is now evenly distributed between the Server and Client PC’s (which are far from the ‘dumb’ terminals of old), making Cloud Computing much more responsive.
Cloud Computing consists of:
- 'The Cloud': runs from a large data centre providing the required levels of server capacity, hard disk storage space, memory, high bandwidth network connection etc, with flexibility to increase or decrease capacity as required (Scalability)
- ‘Service Cloud’: a public service from which software developers can create applications (eg contact management/CRM), IT and business related web services. eBay, Amazon and virtualCONTACT are great examples of this.
- Software-as-a-Service: a software application that is licensed for use as a service provided to customers on demand
What has Virtualisation got to do with Cloud Computing?
- Virtualisation is a type of technology for the transformation of IT service delivery from dedicated, discreet equipment to virtual/ shared resources.
Virtualisation allows Cloud Computing services to be delivered with the levels of availability, scalability & efficiency that make it far more flexible (On Demand) and superior to traditional methods of providing these services to customers.
What are the benefits of Cloud Computing?
In today’s tough market, companies are facing unprecedented challenges to maintain or increase revenue and profit, while reducing costs. It is equally as important for organisations to find the right solutions that will provide greater ROI, efficiency, stability and flexibility to support business requirements. It’s fair to say there’s a big difference between successful and unsuccessful organisations, the main difference being that the successful ones have the necessary tools in place to track, adapt and respond quickly to market trends. Most of today’s successful Business Management tools are based on Cloud Computing technology.
So what can The Cloud deliver?
- Significant Cost savings
- On Demand IT
Simply pay for the resources you need and not the ones you don’t. Cloud Computing can be thought of as a utility like water and electricity; you simply turn it off when you no longer need it. - Remote Access/File Duplication
Same IT infrastructure and resources in head office, remote office/s and home workers; no need to implement time consuming, sophisticated or costly procedures to help avoid file-duplication. You do not need to worry about any of this as it’s handled by Cloud Computing automatically.
It is a proven fact that with reduced commuting and reduced distractions, home working delivers well above average motivation levels and is set for significant growth (http://www.workwiseuk.org).
Do you have a Home Working strategy in place to help motivate your team as well as using it as a tool to attract new team members? - Reduced desk space also leads to significantly reduced office overheads.
- Cloud Computing is Green
‘Thin Clients’ take the green element a step further. A thin client is a PC with cut down internal components, no hard disk, limited memory etc, meaning its power consumption is greatly reduced. - Eliminated or reduced requirement for local IT support, as this is all included by the Hosting company/provider
- IT Capital expenditure turned into Operating expenditure
- Significantly increased commercial agility
Cloud Computing provides a greatly increased dynamic and flexible use of your company’s IT resources, allowing them to be shared across multiple internal users in a new scalable and on-demand way. Here are just some of the benefits to your organisation:
- Improved returns on existing IT investments
- Reduced Capital investment
On demand scalability – increase when needed, reduce in a downturn (you can see why Cloud Computing is often likened to a utility) - Processes are right first time, every time
- React faster than your competitors with significantly reduced cycle times
- You’re free to work from where you like
- Reduced pricing for hardware/software expenditure/usage (pay as you grow)
- Allows your Enterprise to become unbelievably agile
- Pay-as-you-use billing
So there it is; you’re now much more informed as to what the next big change in IT is going to be and it’s already started. Over the next two years we are going to see a big change in all markets with some firms struggling to survive, while others companies see the opportunity ahead of them and thrive. There is no doubt that the thriving companies will have the most powerful and simplest Cloud Computing tools at their fingertips.
If you would like to know more on how virtualCONTACT can make a dramatic impact on your business, or have any further questions please contact us
For more details regarding Contact Management please click here.
For more details regarding Cloud Computing please click here.
For more details regarding Key Performance Indicators please click here.