What Is Cloud Computing?

Cloud computing is the term used to refer to on-demand internet access to IT resources, including applications, servers (physical or virtual), development tools and data storage. These IT resources are situated in a remote location that is managed by cloud service providers. Users can access this infrastructure via secured connections. Cloud services are accessible through a subscription or charging per usage.

Cloud-based solutions can cut costs and time associated with maintaining IT infrastructure, while allowing IT personnel to focus on other valuable work. The savings a company will realize will depend on which systems they choose to move to the cloud, as well as what the cloud systems are replacing. However, a recent study discovered that IT and business professionals reported savings of between 30 and 50 percent switching to cloud.

Several cloud service models are available that include Software as a Service (SaaS), Platform as a Service and Infrastructure as a Service. SaaS is the most familiar model and the one that businesses already use. It provides the application layer, which includes software such as CRM email, office software- over the internet, eliminating the necessity to upgrade or maintain hardware.

Businesses also gain from the ease of scaling down or up the size of their servers as well as disk storage, paying only what they use. This elasticity is essential to ensure that processes are agile and for rapid introduction of new technologies into production. Cloud providers can also keep IT departments current on virtual data room for law firms the latest technological advancements without worrying about costly hardware.