"Cloud computing is the future," is the key little nugget of information that is heard when talking about a transition to the cloud. Every business size has been adopting this migration, from worldwide organizations to small businesses with a few users. The average decision period for considering migration to a cloud solution is between 6-12 months before a server warranty expires. As this day approaches the task can seem daunting and a lack of knowledge can hold back the decision process, but with some base knowledge of what cloud computing is and what it can offer you, the transition will be easier to adopt and integrate into everyday business practices. To get started, what is cloud computing? Cloud computing is essentially an internet-based form of computing that provides data and resources to computers and many other devices on demand. There is access to a shared pool of various computing resources, like servers, networks, services, storage, applications, and much more. Cloud computing can help minimize upfront infrastructure costs, but also offers the ability for enterprises and small businesses to access information from anywhere with internet access as information is hosted in data-centres What kinds of cloud computing are there? Private Cloud- This form of cloud computing is often hosted in house, or by a provider such as Mico Systems. In turn however requires proper maintenance and regular management to ensure efficiency and complete functionality. The key items that attract most businesses to the private cloud are more integrated control over data and to maximize their data security. Public Cloud- This is a solution that was designed with the key idea of helping maximize efficiency for the end user. Public cloud maintenance and management is handled by the provider, and can be ideal for organizations that wish to have a more hands-off cloud experience. Architecturally public clouds are similar to that of private clouds, just with the expense of some data control and certain security features. Hybrid Cloud- A combination of two or more hosting methods that provides a middle ground to the end user when it comes to data storage and hosting. Most commonly hybrid cloud solutions involve and on premises server that hosts and stores important and sensitive information with a virtual server working in tandem in the cloud to host and manage the storage of additional data. Why chose to move to the cloud? Cloud computing has now essentially embedded and forever changed the way businesses use technology. You can access important data on a whim, and can translate to increased productivity both in and out of the office. Leveraging cloud in your business plan in the near future will no doubt implement an incredibly noticeable change. Implementing the cloud into your everyday business practices is easier said than done. By having a better understanding of what it is though will help your business decide sooner rather than later the strategy you will eventually consider in adopting or integrating yourself.
