One of the most frequently asked questions regarding our cloud support services is why the cloud is called “The Cloud”?
It's not because it sounds otherworldly and intangible (though it can feel that way sometimes).
The term dates back to the early days of the internet when computers were purely text-based, digital hisses and beeps.
In this article, we’ll uncover why we call “The Cloud” as it is and its overall impact towards business operations in the present and future.
A brief explanation of the term "cloud"
Cloud computing is a term used to describe the use of technology that allows users to access information and applications over the internet. The name comes from the fact that the data gets stored on servers - in the cloud.
So, I guess it’s safe to assume that the cloud is a slang term used by tech industry people to describe the servers and networking infrastructures that allow users to store and access data through the internet. And as the cloud progresses with higher levels of computing power, more and more businesses migrate to “the cloud” to express where their data processing is taking place. Recently, the term has become widely known for this specific purpose.
But whatever the reason for the name, cloud computing has become an essential part of our lives (whether we see it or not), and it doesn't seem to be going anywhere anytime soon!
The history of the cloud
The term “cloud” has been around since the 90s to early 2000s. However, the concept has been common in the IT industry since the 1960s.
In the early days of computing, most people used on-premises software, which required them to install and maintain it on their computers and servers. This began to change in the 1990s with the advent of web-based applications, which could be accessed from any computer with an internet connection.
The first actual cloud computing service was launched in 2006 by Amazon Web Services, which allowed businesses to rent computing power and storage from Amazon’s vast network of servers. Since then, the cloud has become an essential part of the IT landscape, with major providers such as Microsoft, Google, and IBM all offering their cloud services.
Today, cloud computing is used by businesses of all sizes for a wide range of tasks, from storing data to running complex artificial intelligence algorithms.
The benefits of the cloud
When it comes to business today, one of the most popular phrases you’ll hear is “the cloud.”
But what is the cloud?
In most layman’s terms, the cloud is a way to store and access data and applications over the Internet instead of on your computer’s local drive. And there are a variety of ways businesses can benefit from the cloud.
Here are our top picks:
Save money
Budget is a sensitive topic amongst decision-makers.
Whenever an employee has something new to propose to a board of directors, the ultimate (and probably the hardest) question will be - how it will help the company earn money.
Migrating to the cloud is not an easy and cheap endeavour. And there is a lot to consider along the way that may or may not affect the initial cost of implementing a cloud environment into your business. But the price is only one of the many factors. Although yes, it can be pricey depending on the complexity of your infrastructure upon implementation, think about the long-term advantages you’ll get from using the cloud. For one, it can save you money in the long run that you can otherwise invest in other areas of your business.
If you’re worried that you’ll end up paying for features you neither need nor want, you don't have to worry since most cloud-computing services are pay-as-you-go.
This payment model means that if you don’t take advantage of what the cloud has to offer, then at least you won’t have to be dropping money on it. So, you’re only paying for what you’re using.
With cloud computing, you don’t have to invest in expensive hardware and software anymore to keep your local servers up and running. So, no more costly maintenance and upgrades. Only productivity and efficiency. And for a stretch, more savings.
Reliable Environment
Another benefit of using the cloud is that it's more reliable than on-premises systems.
Cloud service providers like OSIT have teams of experts who manage the infrastructure and keep things running smoothly. This frees you up to focus on your core business priorities instead of worrying about IT issues.
So, whenever there’s any sort of emergency like natural disasters or power outages, your cloud backup will keep everything in place and ready once you get everything back up and running again. This advantage will help get back to business with little to no downtime.
Team Collaboration
Collaboration is of utmost importance for teams.
It only takes one downtime to turn your teams into disarray. Because if you can’t access your local data, you’re not only missing out on work, but you’re also losing profit by the hour. With the cloud, you’re less likely to experience this problem.
Cloud computing makes collaboration between teams more seamless. Instead of accessing files from your local servers, you can view, share, and collaborate in real-time in the cloud, making work efficient for everyone.
With the help of cloud-based services like Microsoft 365, your team can collaborate, whether they’re in the same building or on different sides of the world. Although there are collaboration options without cloud computing, it won’t be as seamless without it.
Scalable Operations
What we love about the cloud is that it’s flexible and fully scalable according to current business needs.
Instead of making do with cloud packages that are too much for your requirements, you can talk to your cloud service provider can create a new package that’s more tailored to your needs. And once your requirements change, they can scale your package up or down.
The challenges of the cloud
As great as the cloud is for collaborating and storing data, it does have its fair share of challenges.
Here are our top picks:
Security Issues
One of the most common challenges of the cloud is security.
Ever since the birth of the internet, security has always been a concern. And much more so now that more and more companies are migrating to the cloud.
Your cloud platform should be kept private and secured whether you use it for personal or professional reasons. Ensure your cloud service provider has a reputation for implementing strict data security measures such as multi-factor authentication, data encryption, access control, etc.
When data is stored in the cloud, it is more vulnerable to hacking and cybercrime. And if you’re unprepared, you are vulnerable to cyber risks like phishing, ransomware, identity theft, and malware infections that will only bring disaster to your cloud environment.
As a business, ensure your data is always under lockdown and should only be accessible by authorised individuals. Encrypt your data and ensure that your cloud provider has adequate security measures in place.
Top read: Is the cloud really secure?
Performance Challenges
Another cloud challenge is performance challenges. And this is important to consider if you want to switch to a cloud-based solution.
If the performance of your cloud service platform is not up to par with your requirements, you’ll be dealing with unhappy customers and decreased profits. Even a small delay in your cloud application can cause an inconvenience for you and your customers. This typically happens when your cloud servers cannot efficiently handle the incoming traffic leading to a poor user experience.
Understand that the cloud is also at risk of outages, which ultimately disrupt business operations. And this is normal. The key is implementing a business continuity plan in case a critical cloud component fails to function.
Establish a backup plan in place in case of an outage.
Cost Management
Finally, the cloud can be expensive.
But the great thing is cloud service providers have a PAAS (Pay-As-You-Go) payment model, which makes your IT budget problems a little bit lighter. Beware that there can be times when your cloud platform may accumulate unknowingly.
For example, if your cloud’s resources aren’t organised and optimised, files can accumulate storage space in no time, ending up with you paying for a package with a larger storage space that you won’t need.
When you’re using a cloud service platform, ensure that you’re on top of its performance, especially its available storage space, so no resources are left unused and you’re making the most out of your monthly cloud payments.
The future of the cloud
The cloud has come a long way from was it was in the 90s. What started as a method to store and share data has become a full-fledged platform for running businesses and powering most of the applications of this century.
And it’s only getting started.
Because of this, many businesses are turning their operations digital to improve critical aspects like scalability, efficiency, continuity, processes, and of course, profits. So, it looks like the cloud is not going away anytime soon and will be a core component for businesses to keep up with the ever-evolving standards of their industries. The key is to be innovative in how the cloud gets used in your day-to-day operations.
All in all, the cloud can help you and your business save money and be more agile. And that’s a trump card that more businesses will take advantage of in the next few years.
Conclusion
The cloud is called “the cloud” because it involves using a network of remote servers to store, manage, and process data, instead of doing everything on a local server or personal computer. It has come a long way from the 90s when businesses are required to use on-premises software and maintain it right from their computers and servers. And it doesn’t seem like it’s stopping anytime soon.
The cloud has brought its fair share of benefits and challenges to its users. For one, it allows users to access their data from anywhere in the world, as long as they have an internet connection handy.
Although its downside is it can experience downtime like on-premises servers. But unlike on-premises servers, you have a backup of all your files on other servers, which would help you operate as normal once you get everything back up and running again.
Data loss almost doesn’t exist in the cloud.
The cloud has brought a new meaning for innovation to businesses. And many are taking advantage of all the features it offers to move their businesses towards their goals.
Will you be taking that step towards success?
Let OSIT take you there.
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