The latest innovations in technology are set to shape the future of the business world. Industry leaders are excited about the prospects of 5G technology, cloud-based operations, and artificial intelligence. While the cloud is not a new idea to businesses, the true opportunities that it holds are just now being realized. There are many things that cloud-based systems can bring to your company, but the main that you should know is that implementing this technology has more pros than it does cons. The cloud is going to be a foundational element of the digital infrastructure of the future, with expectations of driverless cars, smart elevators, subways, power plants, and more being managed remotely but accurately and safely through cloud-based storage and computing of massive amounts of data. Within a company, the cloud can be transformative, as it will enable small and mid-sized businesses to rely on artificial intelligence and data analytics to inform their business decisions more wholly and quickly.
Solutions for Every Need
Costly IT resources can be housed through the cloud with hosting platforms like Microsoft and Amazon. These aren’t the only options for your business needs, and you should consider which of these cloud software solutions are right for your staff and operating demands.
1. Web-based Services
Using a web-based service, you can choose from several web functions for your business rather than an entire application package. These services use open standards and different languages with a protocol backbone to integrate with the other parts of your company’s operations. You could select a web-based service for account processing or a payroll function. There are individual services that can be chosen from a multitude of providers.
2. SaaS
A Software as a Service approach is one of the more commonly used elements of cloud computing. It provides multiple cloud users to access a specific application. The new Office 365 is a type of SaaS, with Microsoft selling subscriptions to the entire Office suite or to the applications that the user needs the most. This a streamlined approach to cloud-based interactivity, as the end-user is able to develop a more limited use of solution-based products that deal with daily operations. The services are managed by an IT services provider, help reduce the stress on the end-user.
3. IaaS
The Infrastructure as a Service plan establishes the basic needs for cloud operations and gives the user access to virtual machines, network functions, storage space, and dedicated hardware. The technology is a way to outsource infrastructure yet serves as a foundation for the operations of your business or another cloud-based service. Amazon Web Services is a type of IaaS, establishing message queues, services buses, virtual networks, and non-relational storage platforms to users.
4. PaaS
A Platform as a Service brings the necessary operating systems and hardware to manage cloud applications. These systems will help increase your business efficiency without the headache that comes with planning, procuring, managing, and maintaining a company’s cloud-based solution. Companies will use both an IaaS and PaaS to manage their IT infrastructure. There are many companies that offer software development kids, making it easier for developers to create and implement their own applications.
Solutions for Cloud Deployment
There three primary types of cloud deployment systems, either hosted, hybrid, or an on-premise solution. In a hosted cloud solution, there is a services provider that owns, manages, and maintains the system. A hybrid arrangement combines the use of an on-premise and hosted application. On-Premise deployment is generally not cloud-based, but there are applications hosted through private clouds.
Using a cloud-based computing system will give your company access to resources that are costly to achieve through your own IT department. Cloud solutions are efficient, cost-effective, and can be acquired in a number of ways to meet your company’s needs.
