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It's no secret that cloud computing is becoming an increasingly key technology for scaling businesses and developing new ventures. But what exactly is cloud computing , and how does it benefit daily operations?
We are at a point where cloud computing participation is seen as a mandatory requirement for any decision-maker in the technology field who seeks to invest in innovation, with the mission of contributing to the company's growth.
Here you will learn all the details about what cloud computing is: understanding its concept, main types, and how to adopt it in practice.
What is cloud computing?
When you store data or run programs on your hard drive, this is called local storage and computing. Everything you need is physically accessible in this model, where access to your data is limited to the server's capacity.
Cloud computing has arrived to change this scenario. This technology allows data to be stored on servers that can be accessed from anywhere , requiring only an internet connection.
It is estimated that the term was first used in the late 1990s, but researchers point out that the concept of information sharing between computers emerged much earlier, in 1960.
The technology may not be new, but its adoption only began in 2008, when companies of various sizes started using the service. Today, the development of cloud computing is accelerating thanks to the Digital Transformation process.
Because it offers benefits in various aspects, such as mobility, increased productivity, and reduced costs, the advancements and expectations surrounding this service are gaining more and more space and investment.
Due to the sheer volume of demand, many desktop software development companies are using cloud computing as a solution to make their software available in the cloud . On the other hand, some doubts still exist surrounding this concept.
Let's look at the most common ones below:
- Is it expensive? → No! Quite the opposite. In fact, compared to on-premises (local) infrastructure, which requires a high investment to set up and maintain a server infrastructure, the option of using the cloud is much cheaper, allowing any company to migrate data and systems. One way to have a clear view of these savings is to perform a TCO calculation .
- Is it safe? → Yes! Especially when we talk about the public cloud, where the major market players invest more than 50% of their profits in server upgrades and security.
What is cloud computing used for?
Cloud computing is the fastest solution for those seeking mobility, availability, and security for their business without the need for major process changes.
One of the main advantages of using cloud computing is mitigating the risk of losing all files if a physical computer or server experiences problems, which would certainly represent an inestimable loss to the business.
In other words, talking about the cloud means having the ability to access, run, and edit files from anywhere , all online.
This makes it possible to have entire systems, applications, and databases running without the need for a large investment in local infrastructure.
Regarding the outlook for the future of Cloud Computing , Gartner published , at the end of 2020, research on the future of the cloud in 2025 , led by Dennis Smith, vice president of research at the organization.
Below is a summary of the research that highlights the shift in perspective regarding the cloud:
“Today, most people think of the cloud as a technology platform. This perspective will change sharply by 2025. The cloud will not only be a technological approach to delivering applications, but will also serve as the main driver of business innovation.”.
Furthermore, cloud services provide consumption-based pricing models and ubiquitous availability for all organizations, democratizing technology for the masses.
Reference : The Future of Cloud in 2025: From Technology to Innovation, Published 29 October 2020 – Dennis Smith
Advantages for different sectors
Regardless of the industry , cloud computing contributes to the success of a wide variety of business models by offering benefits such as:
- The user can access applications regardless of the operating system they are using on their device;
- There's no need to worry about performing tasks such as maintenance, security checks, and backup procedures , as this is the responsibility of the cloud service provider;
- It is much easier and more practical to share data, since any number of users can access it from the same place: the cloud.
What are the types of clouds?
After understanding what Cloud Computing is, it's important to highlight that there are 3 main types of cloud:
- Public Cloud : massive structures, shared with millions of companies (including NASA), with a high level of security and virtually unlimited storage capacity. Recommended for companies that experience peak usage throughout the year.
- Private Cloud : a structure developed to meet the needs of a single company. It offers a high level of security and privacy, but with storage space that is usually limited. Recommended for companies that have high control and predictability over cloud usage.
- Hybrid Cloud : combines resources from both public and private clouds, making it the preferred choice for many companies.
Knowing these differences makes it easier to choose which option to adopt during the cloud migration process.
Okay, but how do I adopt cloud computing in my business?
By choosing to have your operations in the cloud using platforms like Skyone Autosky, your company benefits from a smooth and secure migration process, gaining access to servers from major players without needing an internal team specialized in cloud computing.
In practice, this means that major IT team concerns about infrastructure will disappear , allowing these professionals to focus on the overall business strategy and not just on solving operational infrastructure problems.
For example, the need to create, configure, and constantly monitor the environment becomes the responsibility of the partner company , guaranteeing the internal team predictability of costs with payment per user.
Let's look at the 4 steps for migrating to the cloud .
1. Start with a solution to make your migration possible
Skyone Autosky is a solution developed by the Skyone team especially for those seeking a complete infrastructure to move their software to the cloud . Everything is done quickly and without headaches: we take care of all the configurations for you!
Connecting to the platform is also easy: web availability means users can access the system from anywhere.
This way, your team gains time to focus on what really matters , such as setting up and configuring the ERP software itself, leaving all the cloud complexity to us.
2. Implement risk management
In a cloud infrastructure, where the use of software solutions is constant, a configuration change can expose a database or application server to the world, causing losses that can be definitive for the financial health of your business.
It is therefore necessary to implement processes that guarantee risk management.
Companies that develop or deploy cloud applications need to ensure that any changes adhere to strict security and compliance controls throughout the development and release process.
3. Define rules applied to compliance
Best practices in data and information security form the basis of compliance standards, as well as the security frameworks applied to the cloud.
Compliance rules for cloud environments typically define password policies, encryption of sensitive data, and the configuration of security groups.
Therefore, it is essential that IT teams incorporate these rules into security management, regardless of compliance requirements.
4. Mitigating the risk of data loss
Currently, there are a large number of security monitoring products on the market that allow administrators to find security configurations and vulnerabilities.
However, these same products do not always offer the resources to correct the problem.
In this sense, to avoid data loss and the resulting fines, it is advisable to choose comprehensive platforms that identify and fix the respective problems in accordance with best security practices.
Learn more about Cloud Computing
Cloud computing is transforming the business world, offering agility and enabling an operational model that provides scalability and high availability .
The cloud also changes the rules of the game for information security management, offering new controls and features.
Now that you know what Cloud Computing is and what it's for, how about going further and delving even deeper into this technology? We invite you to access the e-book Cloud Computing: from the beginning to the present day . There you will find out everything about the future of the cloud!
