Cloud computing refers to the delivery of IT services through the internet, allowing employees to work from anywhere with an internet connection. Its scalable architecture allows organizations to add storage and compute power quickly, based on the amount of data being processed. It also provides cost-effective redundancy to protect against system failures and enable disaster recovery strategies.
For users, cloud-based IT applications look just like any other current tech they access through a web browser or mobile app. To infrastructure users, a cloud platform provider (CSP) offers a broad array of IT tools and services over the internet—including software as a service (SaaS), infrastructure as a service (IaaS), and platform as a service (PaaS).
The cloud model removes the need for big outlays in capital equipment, as well as ongoing maintenance expenses, reducing the total cost of ownership. A pay-as-you-go model, with businesses paying for only the services they use, further reduces costs.
Depending on the business’s needs, the cloud can provide flexibility and collaboration to improve employee productivity. For example, workers can access work files from anywhere on any device with an internet connection, making it easy for teams to collaborate from different locations or times zones. This also means that they can work on projects while traveling or working from home, increasing productivity and efficiency.
For larger-scale IT organizations, the cloud can be an ideal platform for developing and deploying new systems. Platform-as-a-service offerings, such as Amazon Web Services and Google Cloud, allow developers to build complex IT applications using their preferred development environments, removing the need for hardware management or deployment. It also provides a choice of “best-of-breed” technologies from multiple CSPs, which helps avoid vendor lock-in and provides room for innovation.