Cloud Computing - The 3 Big Benefits

There are many benefits in Cloud Computing, but when I talk to business owners 3 big benefits stand out above all others.

1. Cloud Computing Removes The Servers From Your Office

With Cloud Computing the central network resources move out from your office into the Cloud. There is no need for bulky, noisy, heat producing, electricity consuming servers occupying the corner of your office.

2. Pay-As-You-Go With Cloud Computing

There are no upfront capital costs for servers and most software applications - just pay for what you use, generally on a monthly basis, as you use it. This means that you can swap big up front capital cost for smaller monthly operational costs making it easier to swallow.

3. Anywhere-Anytime-Any device!

I've heard this called "Martini Computing" - anywhere anytime, any device!

Because Cloud Computing is browser based anything that can run a browser will be able to access the Computing resources. You can run it on any PC, Mac, iPad, smartphone, etc.

I've also heard it called BYO Computing - Bring Your Own Device and just connect.

Plus a Multitude Of Additional Benefits

* Fast setup, improved agility - a new server or application resource can be turned on and working within a matter of hours with Cloud Computing. There is no need to order hardware and software, wait for it to be delivered and then plan a big installation. This means that your business can be more agile. You can make decisions faster and get results more quickly.
* Granularity of purchase. One of the problems about buying a server and installing applications is the granularity of the purchase. With conventional on-premise computing the granularity comes in large "server sized lumps". For example if you have 20 users, but can only purchase servers with say a capacity for 15 or 30 users then you must purchase the larger more expensive server, but only use two thirds of the capacity. With Cloud computing the granularity is much smaller - for many software applications you can purchase in units of 1 user, with hard drives or backup generally by 100Gb increments, etc. In my opinion this is one of the biggest, but most misunderstood, savings in Cloud Computing. Businesses buy huge amounts of unused computing capacity - in the computer industry we have a name for this Shelfware!. In my experience perhaps about 20% of computing capacity is unused.
* Scalability - from a technical point of view there is no reason why additional computing resource can't be brought on quickly or removed just as quickly. You are only paying for what you use, though there may be contractual issues around downscaling.
* Lower cost PC's. All your local PC needs to do is to be able to run a browser to access the applications running in the Cloud. Effectively it's acting as a dumb terminal. This means you don't need a particularly expensive PC. Nor do you need to replace it as often because even an old PC can run a browser.
* Faster and easier remote access. It's becoming normal that users require access to their data and applications on a remote and mobile basis. Remote connectivity is how Cloud Computing works. This makes it easier for users on the move.
* A more resilient solution. By putting all the computing resource centrally it makes it feasible to build in facilities such as backup, fast recovery and even automatic failover. These are services that few companies can afford on an individual basis, but the collaborative nature of Cloud Computing makes this much more cost effective.

Cloud Computing Is Coming

With all these benefits and the technology now in place there is no doubt that Cloud Computing is on its way. Within a matter of a few years we will all be using at least some aspect of the Cloud.