What is the Cloud?

In simple terms, the cloud refers to the use of a remote servers to process, store, and manage data for off-site use. These services can also includeaccess to applications, resources, and services that are fully managed by a cloud services provider. The main draw of the cloud platform is that it is accessible by any computer with an internet connection.

Because remote cloud servers are handling most of the “heavy lifting,” users no longer need a top of the line setup to reap the benefits. Examples of popular cloud services include Google Drive, Apple iCloud, Netflix, Yahoo Mail, Dropbox, and Microsoft OneDrive. Cloud platform services are an increasingly appealing solution for businesses for the benefits they bring:

Scale

A cloud service can dynamically scale to meet the needs of its users.As the service provider supplies the hardware and software necessary for the service, there’s no need for a company to use its own resources or allocate IT staff to manage the service.

Storage

As all data and services are in the cloud platform, businesses no longer have to worry about a legacy system malfunction leading to catastrophic data loss.

Accessibility and Collaboration

Cloud services allow teams both local and dispersed to have access to data together and collaborate. All you need is an internet connection!

Lower Costs

When data is stored on the cloud, the cost of maintain legacy systems or employing a local maintenance team to manage it can greatly diminish as your data will be housed in maintained servers by the cloud service providers.