Cloud
Computing

One of the biggest trends to hit the business world in recent years is the use of cloud computing. However, unlike other trends that quickly come and go, cloud computing has staying power due to the value that it provides to many different industries.

Before you take the plunge into cloud computing, it is important to know what can be put into the cloud and the type of security required to safeguard your data. It also helps to have an understanding of the different types of clouds available for secure business use.

 

advantages to cloud computing

  • Extremely cost-effective method for boosting technology resources
  • Opportunity to increase operations capabilities in response to business expansion
  • Replaces some areas of IT environment, reducing need for management services
  • Provides quick and easy access to data and essential applications for staff

 

IT Cloud Operations

While there are some things that should not go into cloud computing, there is an extensive list of things that are totally appropriate for use in a cloud service. Today it is possible to put things like software, hardware, and even some of your company’s most important IT operations into the cloud.

SOFTWARE

Perhaps the most popular way to use cloud computing is to utilize cloud-based software applications. Many different providers now host their applications via cloud computing as a method of improving the quality, reliability, and accuracy of the programs that they provide to their clients. Whether you need productivity programs, customer-relationship management software, or applications to provide added functionality to your business processes, you can gain access to it all through the cloud. Applications that your organization may already use may be available in the cloud, including proprietary software that is used by employees across different locations. AllSector Technology can help you choose the best applications for your company to use with cloud computing that would benefit efficiency and productivity across the entire organization.

HARDWARE

It might sound ridiculous to include hardware in cloud computing, but many businesses are now placing their entire IT infrastructure in the cloud. There are many reasons to do this, but the most common is to facilitate the ability to quickly adapt to a growing and changing business structure, without having to constantly invest in storage devices, networking equipment, and servers. Depending on your unique situation, you might not want to put the whole infrastructure into cloud computing, just key components that would benefit from this service. Most companies choose to store and share files via the cloud instead of purchasing an on-premise file server, as a means of saving both time and money.

IT OPERATIONS

In addition to software and hardware, the third most common thing that organizations will put into cloud computing is critical IT operations. Instead of backing up all of your essential data, you can hire a company like AllSector Technology to perform daily or real-time data backups for you, storing copies locally on an in-house server and a replica in a cloud vault. It can be difficult to decide what to put in the cloud, especially if security is a concern. The best way to achieve the most effective results from cloud computing is to take advantage of the knowledge and experience available through the innovative technology solutions at AllSector Technology.

Cloud Computing Options

Once your company decides what you want to put into the cloud, the next step is to choose which type of cloud hosting is right for your business. When it comes down to it there are three primary types of clouds to choose from, which include public, private, and hybrid. The type that you select should have the security and options available to meet the specific needs and requirements of your business model. AllSector Technology will work with you and your team to make a decision about cloud computing to provide you with the best return on your investment..

Public Clouds

The most commonly used clouds for businesses include Microsoft One Drive, Sharepoint, Google Drive, Drop Box, Egnyte and Amazon Drive. Some are free, while others cost a monthly or annual fee. Even if you pay a premium to use these services, they are still considered to be public clouds. The definition of a public cloud is a provider that utilizes the same hardware to provide cloud computing services to all of its customers. That means that you are sharing storage devices, servers, and networking equipment with the thousands of other subscribers of these services. The provider manages the resources that are offered, whether you are storing files, videos, software applications, or using it as a backup service. They also maintain the hardware that is used to provide these services to their customers. Public cloud computing services are extremely flexible, allowing you to increase storage space rapidly and effectively, as needed.

Private Clouds

Most businesses rely on private cloud computing services. The term private is used to describe the use of dedicated hardware and software that is not being shared by any other clients within the organization. You can either purchase your own private cloud or you can lease a private cloud from a professional provider. The hardware used to deliver the cloud computing services will either be located on-premise at your facility or off-site at the provider’s location. The location of the cloud determines who is responsible for management and maintenance of the cloud. The primary benefit to choosing private over public is security, which is key to many different industries. Whether you require more security as part of government regulations or because you simply want to protect your company data, private cloud computing provides you with more control and better security.

Hybrid Clouds

One of the most common misconceptions about hybrid cloud computing is where the servers are located. While some believe that hybrid cloud means keeping IT operations in-house at your office, while connecting to a public cloud for application and data sharing, it actually refers to a system that includes the use of both private and public clouds for its IT environment. While the clouds are designed to operate independently of one another, they are able to communicate to increase portability of data and applications. Hybrid cloud computing is extremely easy to customize, allowing organizations more flexibility to grow and expand their business as needed.

Cloud Security

The next phase is vital to the success of your cloud integration. Unfortunately, a lot of companies overlook the important step of layering security controls onto cloud computing. When it comes to protecting company data and access to privileged applications, increased security controls and restrictions are required to provide better control over IT operations. Depending on the industry that you serve, there many also be government regulations and compliance requirements regarding security that demand a specific level of encryption.

You may also want additional security provided for certain areas of your company’s data files, such as financial, client, and human resources records. Some situations may make it advantageous to receive report logs regarding employee access to specific files or maintain communications archives for all staff. It is possible to achieve this through the power of cloud computing. The AllSector Technology team will work with you and your team to review which security options are best for your company to help you achieve your business goals and requirements.