Cloud Computing Business Benefits

In essence, cloud computing is a service, function or product that is accessible over the Internet and interfaced on the user’s computer, but all the required hardware and capacity are hosted remotely. To illustrate, consider a web-based e-mail service. All of the messages and data are hosted in a remote location, usually known to the end user. However, despite this, the user is able to access their account from any computer with an Internet connection, without any worries that some messages or files will be inaccessible. Apply the same idea to services other functions and services to get a basic idea of what cloud computing is.

What is cloud computing from Salesforce.com on YouTube

Cloud computing falls into a number of categories, with “software as a service” being among the most prominent, if not necessarily the most common. In essence, these are programs that do not need to be installed on the remote user’s computer to allow them to access the full functionality. All of the processing power and hardware requirements are handled on the remote service provider, with the interface serving as a “front end” for the user to interact with. This is particularly useful for a business that needs to collaborate projects between departments or locations, or even across companies. The data is stored in a remote location and accessible by all involved, making it easier for the various parties to make the necessary updates or changes with minimal hassle.

Cloud computing isn’t limited to software applications, however. Some businesses are starting to see the benefits of going into the “infrastructure as a service” side of it. The concept is that the hardware and processing power of servers and similar machines can also be a service themselves, rather than serving as just a platform. The most common form of this is a modifiable hosting arrangement, wherein the client pays for only as much capacity as actually used. This means that a site with low bandwidth and capacity consumption will need to pay far less than it would had it gone with a more traditional hosting package. The amount charged will vary depending on how much is actually consumed, similar to how basic utilities are billed.