Cloud Computing Basics

With cloud computing basics, the software, applications and programs you use don’t run on your own personal computer. They are stored on remote servers and accessed via the internet. If your computer crashes or becomes corrupted, the same software and applications are still available for you and you won’t have to reinstall them or attempt to located the original disks. Also your data is safe, since it’s all stored remotely on the cloud servers. These documents can be accessed remotely, just by logging into your account.  You can also control user rights on each of the documents, controlling who can edit or delete stored data or documents from the servers in real time.

Unlike traditional computing systems, cloud computing architecture is not computer centric, it is data and document centric.  Which computer you use to access the data is not important; the data is stored on servers that are accessible anytime, from anywhere.

Cloud Computing Basics: How It Works

Cloud computing allows you to use applications that actually reside at a remote location using the internet.  Let’s look further at how it works. What if you purchased Microsoft Office and had it installed on all of your computers.  When Microsoft releases a new service pack, you will have to visit each workstation individually and install the update.  Here is where Cloud Computing helps you in cost reduction. If you are using a cloud based version of Microsoft Office, the updates will only need to be installed on the server hosting the software.  By using a third party cloud computing company, they will handle all the updates as needed, plus they will manage and maintain the hardware

Cloud Computing Basics: Benefits Of Cloud Computing

Due to its many benefits Cloud Computing is gaining popularity every day. Here are some of the benefits of Cloud Computing

Cloud Computing Basics: Lower-Cost Computers for Users

You don’t need to purchase high speed or high powered computers to run the applications hosted by Cloud Servers.

Because the applications run on the cloud servers, and not on the desktop computer, you won’t need high processing power, heavy hard disk space and large amounts of memory which are required in your typical desktop computers.  These systems don’t have to be as powerful to run well for the users.

Cloud Computing Basics: Lower IT Infrastructure Costs

Cloud infrastructure is available on an as needed basis of the organization. An organization doesn’t need to purchase high end equipment and software to run its web based applications. Cloud Computing vendors provide the computing infrastructure for you. Cloud Computing vendors manage all the software and hardware infrastructure for the organization, and you only pay for what you need and use.

Cloud Computing Basics: Maintenance Issues

All cloud hardware, applications and software are installed at a remote location. All of these are managed by the vendors for the companies. So there are no software applications on the organization’s computers.  There are less systems to manage and maintain.

Cloud Computing Basics: Lower Hardware/Software Costs

All of your software is installed at a remote location so there is no need to purchase software for every. Plus with lower system requirements for the end users’ systems, you will be able to spend less for future hardware installations and upgrades.

Cloud Computing Basics: Instant Software Updates

In web based applications, updates happen automatically and provide the latest version of the software available for the users to use. Organizations won’t have to continually upgrade, which saves even more money for the business over time.  Hopefully this introduction into cloud computing basics will help you understand a little more about the subject.