A cloudy forecast might not be what you need to start the day right, but when it comes to the world of IT and business; this is the kind of forecast they are hoping for. For business and IT, a cloudy forecast pertains to the emergence of cloud computing in business, data management, productivity and data security. Cloud computing is the latest technology and it is where most businesses are heading. To brace us for a cloudy forecast, here are the things we need to know about cloud computing.
Pressure Rises as Cloud Services Emerges
Business and IT experts forecast an increase in pressure among businesses to embrace the concept of cloud computing. This pressure emanates from the so called “Digital Natives” of the workforce under 30 who are well accustomed to cloud based technologies such as Gmail and Hotmail. This kind of technology offers a high rate of productivity as it can be accessed through their tabs, smartphones and notebooks anytime, anywhere. When these Digital Natives enter an organization where this type of technology is not available, the frustration builds. For people who are not used to this type of technology, there is an increasing pressure to know more about it and its role in business decisions.
What Cloud Computing is Not?
Social networks such as Facebook, Twitter and even Wikipedia are not forms of cloud computing. We can use these social networking sites as an example for some features of cloud computing, but the way social networking functions is not the same as cloud computing. Though, the speed and scale of social networking sites are able to deliver different kinds of application.
Companies may Benefit from Cloud Computing
How? Here are three benefits of cloud computing for businesses:
Better Data Management
With cloud computing, documents and other pertinent data can be managed in a more organized manner. Let’s take a team working together to create a document for example: for this collaboration, an email would be okay, but if the members of the team increase, the email becomes a hassle. Every member making a modification has to send the email to everybody else; this can make the document unworkable. The solution? A cloud based system that works like a library, where members can check the document, work on it the put the doc back in. If another team member checks the document, the system can reconcile and merge the two together so the edits can be compared.
More Secure Data
Sending documents through email can cause major problems. If an employee accidentally enters the wrong contact, the document can be sent into the wrong hands. If cloud computing is used instead, a space where all the files are located can be created, this way no email would be sent and employees can access the files with a security code. The system can also limit the people who can view the files by sending invites only to those who are qualified to access them.
Cloud Offers Efficiency for IT Resources
Cloud computing offers flexibility for the IT system. It allows the delivery of applications that can grow and scale dynamically. This way IT departments don’t have to forecast or plan.
About the Author: This article is contributed by Don Williams, a writer on topics concerning technology, IT, cloud services, and cloud computing. Don Williams runs his own blog and website to review and remain attuned with the latest on business and technology.
