Here at Quantum Services Group our mission is to make the Cloud simple for all of our customers. We hope this article will help explain what the cloud is, so you can apply it to your business and utilize everything it has to offer.
To learn more about how you can use QSG cloud solutions to improve your business give us a call at 248-247-3000 or contact us today!!
By now I’m sure you’ve heard people raving about the Cloud, and other tech buzzwords like Big Data and Internet of Things. These words sound fun and flashy but don’t make it clear what they are describing. Unfortunately, they are used so frequently that it can be embarrassing to ask what they actually mean. Especially, if you do not have a tech background.
Even if you do have a tech background it can still be a challenge to understand and utilize the cloud to its fullest. According to cloud infrastructure management company Fugue, only 20% of IT professionals felt they were getting the most out of the cloud. With many believing IT leadership and developers do not understand the complexity of the cloud. So why is that? Is the cloud really as complex as people make it out to be? How can business owners get the most out of it? In this article we explain the cloud simply and hope to open more discussions with you in the future to provide you with streamlined cloud services.
What is the Cloud?
The “Cloud” is simply software and services that run on the internet instead of your local computer. Most of these services can be accessed through your web browser like Internet Explorer or Google Chrome. Other companies may use specific applications to connect to these services.
When companies say you data is in the cloud it doesn’t mean your data is stored up in the sky. Your data has a physical home in a network of servers in data centers around the world. When you need to access your data it finds where it is stored and delivers it to you through the internet.
By now you have definitely used the cloud at some point, perhaps without even knowing it. For instance, if you have ever used popular cloud storage services like Dropbox or Google Drive to store files or photos. When you save a file in Dropbox you can access it from anywhere in the world with an internet connection. On the contrary, when you save a file to your local computer in “My Documents”, for example, you can only access that on your computer, but an internet connection is not required. For cloud services an internet connection is always required.
Advantages of the Cloud
The main advantage of the cloud is ease of access on any device from anywhere in the world with an internet connection. It allows you to edit files for business when you are on vacation, share photos with friends and family from around the world, and stream your purchased music to all of your devices.
When you take advantage of cloud storage you are also saving yourself space on your local computer. Instead of storing your entire photo collection on your computer and chewing up your hard drive space, you can use the “cloud” and store your data with Amazon, Google, or another provider (often for free up to a certain size). On top of saved storage space your files are secure, backed up, and available whenever and wherever you need them.
For business leaders the cloud is an asset that is imperative to running your business smoothly. Having a place where your files are stored and backed up prevents data loss in the event of damaged hardware, accidents, or natural disasters.
Disadvantages of the Cloud
Internet, internet, internet..You may have noticed already, but the Cloud is essentially nothing without the internet. Without an internet connection, or when using a very poor one, you cannot access your data or cloud-based apps. The same applies if the cloud provider has a problem with their server or technical outages.
There are also security concerns when using the cloud. Any time you put information online there is always a risk that it can get into the wrong hands. Most cloud companies have security measures put in place to protect their servers and your data, but some are not as advanced as others, and they’re certainly not foolproof. It’s always a good idea to be cautious about what files you put in the cloud and what you keep local.
Overall the cloud isn’t going anywhere and is a great asset for streamlining your business!
To learn more about how you can use QSG cloud solutions to improve your business give us a call at 248-247-3000 or contact us today!!
