Rob May
The drug of choice for many technically inclined people these days is “cloud computing.” I love cloud computing. Why? The idea behind cloud is a simple one. Rather than having dedicated servers for each client or group, a large number of people can share the infrastructure of a database, highly customizable software, or the general database platform for the desired applications. Despite its introduction in the early 2000s, cloud is only now starting to peak its head out of the cave and show us its blazing guns. Here are five reasons why cloud will rule the world now that it has shown us its real abilities.
1. The art of natural collaboration.
With software as a service (SaaS), one of the main forms of cloud computing, there isn’t a need to install software on every computer or engage in a long and difficult process just to share files, documents, or information. With the use of cloud software, collaboration becomes second nature. Take Google Documents and Google Wave as examples. Multiple viewers can add to and edit the same document at the same time, even keeping open communication while doing so. This is able to happen due to the innovative way that cloud approaches file storage and editing processes.
2. Technical issues vanish in the haze.
With previous forms of computing, such as the client-server computing relationship, technical issues were pretty severe. Since many of the resources that were required came from the on-site computers and servers, you had to have an internal technical support guru or department. Even with server run software, upgrades and alterations, especially ones that were customized to any degree, could be disastrous. Cloud computing shows its super hero qualities by having application companies provide their own technical support for the infrastructure, platforms, and software.
3. Software costs get flattened by a twelve ton anvil.
Once upon a time, in the excruciatingly recent past, each individual computer that needed access to a database, set of utilities, platform, or software required its own software license. A technical support employee would have to get this software onto each and every computer and handle all the technical issues. Don’t forget that the company would have to purchase each of these licenses. With software running in the cloud, you don’t have to take this time to install software, nor do you have to pay the licensing fees, which can quickly add up.
4. Employees break the chains of location.
Maybe you don’t want your employees to work on their projects from home, a cafe down the street, the city library, or their Aunt Mimi’s house. However, for companies that do want their employees to have that extra flexibility, the “work from anywhere” format of cloud computing is a modern day miracle. Exchange hosting, which gives you full access to exchange, will allow your employees to work from ANYWHERE! Even if they don’t want to.
5. Working with freelancers no longer requires pain killers.
Working with freelancers used to be a painful process requiring an overly complicated structure for completing any given project. Now, with cloud, you can easily add freelancers as collaborators in your platform or software, then remove them when their services for your company have been completed.
This, my friends, is why cloud computer is going to explode and become more common. Of course, not ever project is right to employ cloud computing– but you will probably know that before you explore. There are so many benefits, why wouldn’t cloud change the world?
