Cloud computing is not new anymore. The term has been used repeatedly over the last two years, and it has well established itself as a rather permanent part of several businesses in many industries which use the Internet nowadays. Technically, every business cannot survive now without a computer that hosts all their data and important files. With recent developments of cloud computing, particularly those solving privacy and security issues, you cannot think of anymore graver reason why you should not consider moving to this concept and leaving the traditional servers behind. In this article, we will talk about how the cloud can shake the market.
How Cloud Computing Helps Us
For the benefit of those who are not familiar with cloud computing, this is defined as a platform where businesses and individuals can share and access resources online. With the use of the cloud storage space and applications, there is more efficiency to data access on demand.
Many companies and organizations now utilize this technology to save costs as well. There will be no need to train their human resources and staff members on how to use and maintain physical servers. Moreover, they will not need to rent out a space to store these bulky devices. As everything is in the virtual space, there is no need to be worry in case of emergencies such as fires, earthquakes and the like.
Cloud computing is a self-maintained app of which services are part of the package offered by the vendor or the host. Companies hence are not required to update software needed to run the business smoothly. Everything is handled by the vendor of the cloud computing service, and they can be contacted for any configuration or concern anytime.
A survey had been ran from 2010 to determine the future of cloud computing. Respondents were small, medium and large institutions and companies. Overall result said that they would be willing to spend and invest over 11 percent of their budget on IT for cloud computing.
Layers of the Cloud
The cloud embodies the following unique features that nothing else has:
1. Software as a Service
Apart from the many advantages of using the cloud to store data, one of the unique features that make it truly stand out is that it functions as a software. Compared to customary storage areas, the cloud enables users to use applications and access them through web browsers anywhere and anytime with the Internet. This feature is more popularly called as “Software as a Service” or SaaS for short. This essentially means that users can have control over their files in Google Docs, Salesforce.com and the like.
2. Platform as a Service
Next is that the cloud acts as a platform whereby users can use it to develop their own applications. Good examples here are Google App Engine and Microsoft Windows Azure. End users can access the cloud to have control over application design, as it provides a mobile operating system for clients.
3. Infrastructure as a Service
Mostly for data centers (and hybrid ones), the impact of cloud computing offering infrastructure as a service or IaaS is huge as it targets both historic operational and profit-making models. As more data and files are put into the cloud, there is more need for users to process, store and utilize computing resources directly. The cloud enables them to configure and run resources and operating systems with “just-in-time” capacity. They can also use it to perform customizations on software like Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2), Rackspace, and IBM Computing on Demand.
Future of Cloud Computing
In the future, it is projected that data and applications will totally not reside on desktops. Even the backup data will have to be based on a server online. Everything can be shared to those who have access to the secured data in a safe manner. Installations for software and maintenance of other technology functions will not stay in the worry list of companies but solely on the vendors.
Implementing this futuristic idea may be hard to accept at first hand. But since more and more people are taking on the concept and accepting the benefits of cloud computing over its cons, IT professionals would take on the lead to get this innovation to the next level.
There will be fewer budgets on network connectivity and computing power, as users can run their programs with the web browser alone. Capacity of Internet bandwidth is the only precaution to be stay up all the time. This is crucial to support the entire organization’s transferring of packets of data stored in virtual servers in the future.
How the Cloud Can Shake the Market
Clearly, we are getting to a more advanced technology era where all tech resources can be found in the cloud. This is the part where server rooms to enterprise facilities and large-to mega-sized facilities will be put to the bottom. Since many are now discovering and accepting cloud computing technology, it will be here to stay. What happens is that this would eradicate the high volume of demand for hardware costs and software costs. Fierce competition in the market is coming up, as companies would have to prefer their apps in the cloud and those selling against the idea of having virtual data might have slower businesses.
Per a recent study, 34 percent of all network traffic by 2015 will be accounted by cloud computing already. This is only a matter of two years from now. In another two years after that, cloud computing might dominate the data market. Infrastructure, it may be worth the investment as clients only pay for space they consume.
There might not be going back to the traditional, as the cloud guarantees faster deployment and more efficient operations with sustainment support. Thus an option for those selling traditional storage media and heavy devices is to diversify and offer cloud computing services as well. Unless they want to lose profits and forget about their business, they must learn how to climb up and help fill the large role of cloud services nowadays.
Technology is a no-stop revolution. Businesses must pick up the idea and embrace that the cloud will be an important component in the marketplace now and in the future. Cloud-related software, apps and services are expected to blossom more and will grow significantly. On the other hand, as the dangers and unreliability of the cloud are beginning to diminish, non-cloud counterparts are projected to decline. In about ten years of time, the cloud market will reign in the business and individual perspectives.
Question is, “Are you ready and convinced enough to take part in this movement?”