What are Cloud Technologies and How They Help Business in 2021?

The adoption of different cloud computing technologies has been on the rise—thanks to the rapid technological growth, the ever-increasing power of computing know-how, as well as the accessibility of broadband internet. Because of this, many businesses have been able to streamline their internal processes, improve their results, and service delivery in general. Besides, most businesses have started to adopt cloud storage solutions because they are very cost-effective, secure, and highly functional.

So, what is cloud computing?

This is an on-demand model, offered by another company as a service, through a pay-as-you-go pricing model. Typically, cloud computing uses servers and avails them to remote users through the internet or “cloud”. With cloud computing, users can access data, applications, and programs stored on remote servers, so long as they have an internet connection. Besides, users are required to pay only for the required storage and speed.

Cloud computing service models

There are three major types of cloud computing models, which are:

●        Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) – this is a cloud computing model, where a third-party service provider rents storage and servers in the cloud, and then delivers them on-demand. IaaS allows businesses to save money and time they would need to build their own data center.

●        Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) – in this model, a cloud platform is offered for software development through the internet. With PaaS, developers can easily design applications without worrying about how they will maintain the infrastructure or software.

●        Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) – also known as cloud application service, this is a software delivery model hosted by third-party service providers, and users can access it remotely through the internet. SaaS applications don’t need any installation since they run on web browsers.

How can cloud technologies help businesses in 2021?

Increased productivity

With cloud computing, employees can do their daily tasks from different devices, and from any location, which is important during this period when we are dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, businesses can create a working space according to their preferences, and allow their employees to access storage and other services for better collaboration and maximum efficiency.

Employees can work remotely

This is one of the greatest cloud migration benefits. Today, it’s possible for businesses to move their workforce from physical offices to virtual offices with cloud technologies. Besides, employees can perform their normal tasks while on the move—thanks to cloud computing.

The COVID-19 pandemic has taught businesses that it’s not a must for their staff to work from their offices. Because of this, most businesses started to adopt cloud computing technologies, thus allowing their staff to work from their homes. While most of these businesses considered remote working to be a temporary solution, some companies have now made it permanent. This, however, couldn’t be possible without cloud computing.

Improved security

Cloud computing allows businesses to enjoy high levels of data security—and that’s why many businesses (both small and large) are adopting it. Besides, cloud computing allows businesses to constantly back up their data, and making sure that businesses don’t need to worry about data security. Cloud computing protects data from natural disasters and theft. And, because data is not stored physically, it makes it much safer. Now, with cloud computing, businesses are assured that their data is safe from hackers and viruses, and this allows them to focus on other important aspects of running the business.

Cost-effectiveness

Experts in IT Support Canberra state that cloud-based IT services are much cheaper compared to other alternatives. With cloud computing technologies, you don’t need hardware to use or store your data on-site, and this eliminates any maintenance-related costs. Besides, it doesn’t matter how powerful your IT equipment is—your staff can access the required data or services in the cloud, as long as they have a PC or smartphone. So, with cloud computing, you don’t have to spend money on such devices since most employees own them.

Increased flexibility and scalability

Hardware will always limit your business because of its limited capabilities. Failing to scale fast can lead to the challenges of buying extra equipment to cope with the growing pressure. And, while this can sort out your current needs, it will eventually leave you with more hardware that you need—and this will be a waste of resources. However, with cloud technologies, your business can scale down or up easily without the need of buying additional hardware.

You will improve your competitiveness

Statistics released by the Hosting Tribunal revealed that over 90% of businesses have already adopted cloud-based services. While it’s safe to assume that cloud technology is a norm for larger businesses, middle and small-sized enterprises can leverage the power of cloud computing to gain an upper and over their competitors. And, the most interesting thing is that cloud computing comes at a cheaper price, meaning it’s very easy for small businesses to adopt it.

Bottom Line

Cloud computing technologies are secure, reliable, and cost-efficient—and that’s what every business needs in 2021. Adopting cloud technologies makes perfect sense from a strategic and performance-oriented point of view, particularly in this time when we are dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, which has pushed most businesses to adopt remote working. All in all, the ultimate choice of your cloud service provider depends on your needs, as well as your budget. However, you will need to research to make sure that you get a service provider who suits your budget and needs.