Cloud computing is a term that’s on a lot of people’s lips at the moment and can cause some confusion to the business user when it comes to choosing which platform they should use.
This is because connected to cloud, are a variety of confusing sounding terms such as SaaS (Software-as-a-Service), PaaS (Platform-as-a-Service) and IaaS (Infrastructure-as-a-Service), to name just a couple.
Computing in all of its forms has traditionally been filled with such jargon and for those who aren’t technically minded, it can represent something of a challenge. However, there’s no real mystery to cloud computing, really it just refers to any kind of service that’s not based in the office, but in data centres.
This can be a range of things, like having an entire network set up offsite, managing back-ups and data storage or running applications in the cloud, rather than on the PC of an employee.
So why would a business need superfast broadband?
Well, as mentioned, cloud computing services are all carried out through a data centre. Even something as simple as hosted email through say, Google, is an example of cloud computing and as such, any business that uses cloud should have a good, fast internet connection if they want to make the most of it.
This is especially true of services such as hosted desktops and content management systems that are hosted in the cloud. These use applications and save data in real time, streaming over the internet. As you can imagine, even for the smaller office this could take up a lot of bandwidth, especially if you’re working with intensive applications.
To take hosted desktops (sometimes called virtual desktops) as an example, this is a great money-saver, especially for the smaller business and start-ups. This means that superfast broadband is very affordable and will offer a significant ROI if used in conjunction with cloud.
Benefits include:
No need for capital outlay, SaaS services such as hosted desktops are often paid for on a monthly basis and do away with the need for buying software (think Office 365) and new machines to run programs on.
Better storage – often more than your company alone can handle and a safe place to back up off the premises.
Greener technology – the majority of data centres are built to ensure maximum benefit to the environment.
This is true of any cloud computing model, whether it’s just a couple of applications and email right up to having an entire office and business infrastructure hosted at a data centre.
Whatever model you choose, it’s a no brainer that you’re going to need a decent broadband connection and as such, superfast fibre is your best option. The speeds offered by superfast will mean that all of the work you carry out can be streamlined, collaboration with other offices anywhere in the world is simple and effective and video-conferencing is a doddle.
Take advantage of having an entire infrastructure set up in the cloud, and this also means that not only can you potentially access your work from anywhere, and you can afford to grow your business due to the cost saving it gives.
Whilst some businesses are still concerned that cloud computing is not secure, this is not really an issue any longer. Data centres are beginning to prove that they’re generally more secure than the average office so these days, the only barrier to cloud and superfast broadband, is you.
Author Bio/Guest Blogger : Kerry Butters writes on behalf of the broadband provider websiteBroadband Genie.
