A Beginner’s Guide to Cloud Computing – Part 1 | Abbotsford Tech Support

Cloud-computing. Storage in the Cloud. Cloud-based-software. Platforms on the Cloud. Cloud, cloud, cloud!

In today’s tech world, it really is all about the cloud! Cloud computing has been around for a while, and it has just kept growing. In fact, the global cloud computing market is expected to reach $623.3 billion by 2023.  However, a recent survey found that 61 % of small & medium businesses still believe that their data is not safe in the cloud.

Why is that?

Well, there are probably 2 main reasons…

Lack of Understanding of Cloud Computing

A lot of people do not actually know what the “cloud” is. We see the term thrown around all over the place. It is used for products, software, services and more. Anyone who is not so tech-savvy can be forgiven for thinking their data is being processed in thin air! However, that is not the case.

The term “Cloud Computing” probably comes from the days of when people started using those cool flowcharts and diagrams to explain how networks functioned. Presenters would use a fluffy little cloud shape to represent the internet… and “the cloud” was born!

So, when we talk about the cloud, we really mean the way in which companies/service providers use the internet to deliver their software or services. Your data is transported by the internet to a server/data centre owned by the company running that service. As long as you have the correct permissions, you can access your data in that centre whenever you want, from wherever you are.

Hacking danger

Security is the biggest challenge. After all, any device attached to the internet is going to have some level of vulnerability to a data breach. Nothing is 100% unhackable! However, a big cloud service provider is going to have a lot more money and expertise (and incentive!) to make sure their storage systems are as tightly protected as they can be… and certainly more than a small business’ budget will allow!

So, what are the pros of Cloud Computing?

Here are the top reasons why many businesses have switched to cloud computing…

• Cost – You eliminate the need to purchase hardware, software, set-up costs, maintenance and on-site running costs (like 24/7 electricity etc)
• Performance – The biggest services run on a worldwide network of secure data centres, and regularly upgrade them to the latest hardware.
• Speed – Most services are self-service and on demand. You take as much as you want, when you want, and it can all take just a few clicks.
• Productivity – On-site data centres typically require a lot of manpower for maintenance. (Set-up, regular patching etc). Cloud computing means someone else is doing all this, so your IT team can spend time on more important business tasks.
• Security – Many cloud providers offer policies, technologies and controls that will actually strengthen your security overall. Again, their greater spending power and expertise help to better protect your data, apps, and infrastructure from potential threats.
• Reliability – Cloud computing makes data backup (our favourite word!) and disaster-recovery easier, quicker and less expensive. Often, the provider also mirrors the data at multiple redundant sites on the their network.

There’s more…

As we mentioned before, the world of cloud computing is a big one. There are different types of cloud computing and services. But, we know how busy our readers are, so we will cover those in our next post.

In the meantime, if you need advice on how cloud migration may help your business, contact us! Call us on 604-210-9811 or email support@terravistatech.com.