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How To Integrate The Concept Of Cloud Computing To Old Fashioned Businesses

2014-03-20by Ryan Del Villar

Cloud computing has come a long way. It started out in the 1950s as a way to share the processing capability of mainframe computers. Today, cloud technology has become so advanced that most online users don’t even know that online services they access on a daily basis in fact run on the background of cloud computing services.

Big name websites already rely on cloud computing services to deliver information to their customers, and customers use these services without a hitch, thanks to properly designed user interfaces. And that’s just how perfect the technology has evolved: cloud computing is doing a terrific job in the background that users don’t need to be bothered to learn about how to operate it. It’s just in its nature to operate seamlessly and intuitively.

From just a few companies offering cloud computing services, some of the biggest names in the tech industry have now entered the fray and now provide online businesses with a way to quickly scale their operations as the need arises.

Big name tech companies like Amazon and Google are offering cloud computing services to businesses of all sizes. These services operate on different models such as software-as-a-service (SaaS) or platform as a service (PaaS).

While online businesses usually have the resources to take advantage of the benefits of cloud computing for their operation, rather “old fashioned businesses” may still be unaware of the advantages that they could have over their competition if they turn to cloud computing.

How “Old Fashioned Businesses” Can Integrate Cloud Computing

 “Old fashioned businesses,” basically those that still don’t take advantage of the benefits of cloud computing and some other new technologies, can take several steps to integrating cloud computing into their operations.

Many of these businesses still have computers that run on native operating systems, which still store data individually in multiple computers. There are many online services that can help small- to medium-scale businesses transfer their files to the cloud, to make the data accessible anywhere, from different devices.

Google Docs and DropBox are free to use—so starting out with these services is a great way to dip one’s toes into cloud computing. With DropBox, you could easily add more storage space by simply paying for it with your credit card.

There are many cloud computing services that allow businesses to just sign up and get remote storage, or as a platform for running remote software.

Amazon’s Web Services and Google Cloud Platform are not the only ones in the game but they do offer topnotch cloud computing services to businesses of all sizes; these two should be on the top of the list for business owners who want to start transferring company data to the cloud. They can also check out Microsoft Windows Azure, Rackspace, JustCloud, SugarSync, and other providers that offer scalable cloud computing solutions for businesses.

Benefits of Cloud Computing

There are many benefits to cloud computing for many businesses. For one, it’s cost efficient. Running software on the cloud and having many users access the same software is usually a more affordable option than having to buy a license for each software user.

Two, cloud computing can provide businesses with almost unlimited storage. It’s easier to scale operations up or down depending on the data demands of the business. Getting more storage space for your needs can be as easy as clicking a button and paying for it with your credit card.

Three, cloud computing makes it easier to backup and recover data, since all of it’s stored in the cloud. Businesses may be hesitant to entrust all of their data to another company but reputable companies go to great lengths to ensure the security of their clients.

Four, and perhaps the best feature of cloud computing is that it provides easier access to data. There was a time when it takes a long time to open files, especially ones that were written using another software, or a machine that runs on a different operating system. With cloud computing, accessing files is now easier across multiple operating systems and devices. The only thing that businesses need to worry about is a steady Internet connection.

Challenges

Of course, as with any advanced form of technology, there are always challenges—and cloud computing is no exception.  For one, the need to constantly sync data when aspects of business operations are put on the cloud.  Integration is a main challenge when businesses make a decision to go cloud-based, which is why it becomes essential to choose a service with the right technology, and one that can walk the company through the integration process.

Many of these cloud service companies have made it easy for companies to simply sign up and then start managing their data from the cloud. With so of them to choose from, there is surely something that fits any business model, regardless of how small or large a company is.

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Author

Ryan Del Villar

Ryan Del Villar is a content writer for Money Hero, Hong Kong’s leading online comparison portal. Ryan is also a freelance writer at Helm Word, an Online Reputation Management company.

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