Digital technology has revolutionized our lives, and cloud computing is at the forefront of it all. Even if you don’t know exactly what cloud computing means, you probably use it on a daily basis!
Everything from your email to your phone bill to your streaming video entertainment relies on some form of cloud computing to work properly. But how exactly does it change the world? And what can you do with cloud computing that you couldn’t before? Read on to find out!
What is Cloud?
When it comes to computing, the cloud is a buzzword that’s thrown around a lot. But what does it mean? While it sounds like cloud computing will make you go swimming, in reality, cloud computing simply means storing and accessing your data on remote servers.
This allows businesses to store their information on services they do not have physical access to while simultaneously allowing employees remote access via their web browser or smartphone.
In an increasingly digital world, it’s hard to ignore cloud computing. This growing trend is an incredibly helpful way for businesses and individuals alike to access powerful technology that was once far out of reach.
However, as anyone who works in IT will tell you, it’s easy to get lost in new terms and acronyms—the list seems endless at times! As such, we’ve put together a quick glossary of common cloud computing terms.
You can use these definitions when discussing your business or professional interests:
1. On-demand resources: When a company needs additional resources, it can simply turn on more servers and other equipment via its web browser. The ability to scale up or down quickly allows companies to respond more effectively to market changes while saving money on unnecessary purchases.
2. Infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS): IaaS gives users virtualized server environments from which they can run applications and software on demand. It gives users flexibility, control, and performance without requiring them to buy expensive hardware upfront.
3. Platform-as-a-service (PaaS): PaaS provides developers with all of the tools they need to create, test, and deploy apps. They don’t have to worry about configuring servers or storage; everything is taken care of by PaaS providers.
4. Software-as-a-service (SaaS): SaaS allows users to access business software
over a network connection rather than installing it on local computers.
The Internet, or the cloud, is changing advertising as we know it. As people spend more time online and on their phones, digital marketing strategies are becoming increasingly important for businesses looking to reach consumers and generate revenue.
Online advertisements allow businesses to target specific audiences and take advantage of data-driven tools like Google Analytics that can measure and refine their audience through cost-per-click metrics. This type of targeted advertising offers a much higher return on investment than traditional forms of marketing such as print ads or television commercials.
It’s also easier to track and analyze which types of ads are
working best so that you can invest your money in those areas where you see a
high return. For example, if you’re running Facebook ads but aren’t seeing a
lot of clicks from users in your desired demographic, then you might want to
try targeting an older age group instead.
The rise of cloud computing is changing not only how businesses operate, but also how people get healthcare. Medical centers are using cloud computing and telemedicine to take better care of patients. Some healthcare providers are even partnering with tech companies like Google (s: GOOG) and Microsoft (s: MSFT) on pilot programs designed around smartphones, tablets, and wearable technology. These gadgets can help doctors in low-resource areas track infectious diseases or administer important medication remotely.
Meanwhile, other medical centers are using data from wearables to develop more
effective treatments for chronic conditions such as diabetes. And because these
technologies allow doctors to share information easily across a broad network
of caregivers, they’re improving communication among all parties involved —
patients included.
Don’t be confused by all of these new buzzwords. Cloud computing is a way for IT departments to store data and run applications remotely, which can reduce costs, improve efficiency and flexibility, and provide other benefits that you might not see at first glance. But even in terms of network neutrality—the idea that broadband providers shouldn’t be able to block or degrade any legal online content or services—cloud computing can make your voice heard.
In fact, cloud computing has become one of the most
popular ways for individuals to share their opinions on topics like network neutrality through social media campaigns like Save The Internet. So if you
want to change how things are done, cloud computing can help you do it without
ever having to pick up a megaphone.
In order for a new service or product to revolutionize an industry, it has to do something different than what currently exists. And one of these ways may be cloud computing—bringing new kinds of computing infrastructure, services, and storage capabilities into a business environment can change how that organization works, sometimes in dramatic ways.
But there are some barriers to entry when it comes to cloud computing, including cultural barriers within organizations and technical barriers from vendors who want you to buy their products rather than use them as a service. The barriers in question come down to two key factors: uncertainty and risk.
First, companies tend to be conservative about spending money on things they don’t understand well; moving resources over to a cloud-based model means taking on risk without understanding all of its potential implications for every part of your organization. Second, businesses often have strong internal cultures that keep them rooted in old processes and methods even if they aren’t ideal anymore.
These cultures make it difficult to adopt new technologies like cloud computing. But how can you overcome these obstacles?
One way to overcome uncertainty is by building knowledge about cloud computing within your team; once people know more about how it works, they will feel more comfortable trying out different models of using it. Make sure everyone knows what types of solutions are available (and which ones would work best for specific departments), where to find information about benefits and risks, and how to assess whether cloud computing makes sense for each department.
This kind of education helps employees think critically about whether cloud computing is right for them, instead of just assuming it won’t work because they don’t understand it.
Cloud computing gives small businesses an opportunity to compete on a new level. While they may not have as much money as larger companies, startups can out-think and outmaneuver their competition by putting their creativity and energy into getting innovative in how they approach their business. Cloud technology is here to stay; it’s up to you whether you want to keep up or get left behind.
Conclusion
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