If you run a business in 2019, it’s highly likely that you’re on the cloud. And if you’re not, you’re probably missing out on some huge advantages as we speak.
Don’t worry, we can turn that around. Below, we go over the diverse kinds of cloud services for your Toronto business and reveal what will resolve your computing needs the right way.
Cloud Computing in 2019
Studies have shown that over 500 of every 1000 multinational companies have stored customer-sensitive data in the public cloud.
So, what is cloud computing? At their core, cloud services consolidate all of your company’s IT infrastructure into a central facility and make them accessible to authorized users with a device and internet connectivity.
Cloud computing is quite the opposite of those services that are granted to users through the organization’s services that are located on the premises itself. The cloud was essentially created to offer simple and scalable access to an application, a resource or a service. These services are typically managed by end-to-end service providers.
To sum it up, everything from sending a simple email to running an e-commerce store is encapsulated by the cloud.
How do cloud services work? The cloud is comprised of two facets (front end and back end) that may be connected to users’ devices.
The front-end facet (what the user sees) includes:
- Client
- Application
- Interface
The back-end facet (the cloud) includes:
- Computers to process the application
- Servers to host the application
- Data storage units
The Many Faces (& Benefits!) of Cloud Computing
A question we get asked most often is; What are the different types of cloud services?
This question can be answered in two ways.
If we’re looking at the method used to deploy, the cloud can be classified as;
- Public
The entire infrastructure is on the premises of the company that makes the cloud service available.
- Private
This uses dedicated or private hardware wherein the infrastructure is utilized by a single entity.
- Hybrid
This incorporates private and public facets; for instance, when a public cloud is utilized to correspond with clients but their intel is stored on a private cloud.
- Community
Uses a cloud that is shared between different companies; typically those that have shared data management concerns; this could be used by different branches of government of a single country.
If we’re looking at the service model, the cloud can be classified as;
- Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
- Platform as a Service (PaaS)
- Software as a Service (SaaS)
- Recovery as a Service (RaaS)
What are the advantages of cloud services? The biggest perks of trusted cloud computing services are detailed below;
- Cost savings
- Added security
- Flexibility to store and access data
- Allows for mobile accessibility
- Increased collaborations
- Quality control
- Disaster recovery
- Automated software updates
- Provides a competitive edge
Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
This encompasses the basic foundation for the cloud and allows for various network features and data storage options. IaaS is very flexible and offers control over your company’s IT resources.
An IaaS provider will give you hardware/software that has already been configured and installed via a virtual interface. Examples of IaaS are environments geared towards developing and hosting.
Benefits:
- Low cost of ownership
- Pay for the level of service you desire on demand
- Enjoy industry-grade resources and infrastructures
- Fully scalable based on your needs
Platform as a Service (PaaS)
This does way with situations wherein the company is forced to manage their infrastructure (OS and hardware). In fact, you are able to focus on deploying and managing your applications. As such, efficiency increases and you won’t have to spare a thought for software maintenance, capacity management, resource procuring and other such factors.
Benefits:
- Your developers have access to a large community as many entities are involved in creating PaaS cloud applications
- Patching, upgrading, and maintaining are taken care of by the provider
- Lower risks as no upfront investments are needed
- Conducting tests and deploying the software are already taken care of; you only have to focus on developing the cloud
Software as a Service (SaaS)
You will have access to a comprehensive service which the service provider is tasked with running and managing. These are essentially end-user applications where you do not have to be distracted by how the service is being maintained, and fully focus on what to do with it.
When looking at examples of SaaS, perhaps the most typical of all is email client services where you can send or receive mail and not worry about what happens in the back end.
Benefits:
- Quickly scalable
- Can be reached from any location that has internet connectivity
- Does away with infrastructure concerns
- Customize your level of service
- Access end-to-end support
Recovery as a Service (RaaS)
This aids companies by replacing their backup, performing archive checks and recovering data on a sole integrated platform. As such, RaaS providers safeguard your company from massive downtimes by offering full data centre recovery, as well as recovery of isolated applications and files.
The overriding benefit with RaaS is that you can decrease the impact of downtimes when disasters do occur.
Benefits:
- Offset temporary or permanent data loss
- Offset loss of physical infrastructure
- Affordable data recovery while maintaining accuracy
- Great flexibility whether you require primary or secondary backups
There’s Only One Road to Success – Choosing The Best Cloud Service
Require a Trusted Cloud Consultant?
It starts with M.I.T. Consulting. The online world is rife with threats. Eliminate risks in the most cost-effective way possible by choosing a cloud computing provider that works for you.
