Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Trying to Define Cloud Computing

By Lewis Gregory


Since the term can talk about numerous things, it's no wonder that more and more people ask "What is the Cloud?" In the event that you are someone who is asking this as well, you will be glad to learn that the definition is not as complicated as you may believe.

So, Exactly What is the Cloud?

The Cloud, and cloud based computing as it's typically called, basically describes a service that permits customers to store data as well as utilize software or development environments by using a vendor-maintained computer network. It's greatest benefit is it enables businesses to customize their own IT systems to satisfy changing requirements without making investments in additional software and hardware to maintain resources that are getting under-employed).

Cloud computing vendors make this a reality by billing customers with a hourly rate, and handling hardware management and application updates for the customer. This approach gives tremendous versatility and savings to the consumer, plus it frees the client from dealing with IT management. Basically, it turns business computing into a service that can be used for a small fee.

Exactly Who Utilizes Cloud Computing?

From the genesis of the technology, cloud services were mostly geared towards corporate users. While this continues to the technology's major application, the current explosion in the use of consumer mobile devices has brought many cloud computing organizations to begin catering their solutions toward consumer use.

Individual Cloud Consumers

The individual cloud consumer is often seeking personal data storage that can be available by way of a mobile device. Services such as SugarSync along with FlipDrive have tailored their solutions to this specific market through use of functions that enable audio, photo and video sharing and internet streaming for consumers. Many providers appeal to new individual customers by providing free storage in small volumes so that potential customers can test their service.

Enterprise Customers

As mentioned previously, almost all cloud solution clients come from the immense enterprise sector. Enterprise customers range between small business owners to big corporations, but most of them typically utilize cloud companies to some extent for data storage space and Software as a Service (SaaS).. An increasing variety of organizations in addition have begun to incorporate Platform as a Service (PaaS) and Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) as a way to sometimes substitute or complement their existing hardware.

What is the Cloud? The New Era of Computing

It has become popular to speak about the cloud as though it is in some way just one more fad. The reality of the matter is, however, that people have barely begun to consider the ways through which the technology will transform our society.

Due to our apparently-infinite appetite for personal mobile technology, as well as an constantly-growing dependence on increased global online access in the work environment, cloud computing is fast becoming an important element of life. Whether at the job or at leisure, you probably already are using cloud services on a daily basis without realizing it. Knowing that, "What is the Cloud?" is a query we all should know the response to.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment