What is Cloud Computing

Do you remember those days when you used to have to email your self work documents, letters, CV’s etc. in order to print them off at work? Do you remember having to burn songs to a disc in order to let a friend hear them? Do you still try and cram everything you consider important onto a USB stick and carry it around with you, hoping you don’t lose it?

Cloud computing can revolutionize all these things if you are ready to trust in the cloud.

I have and it is the best thing I have ever done. By uploading my documents into the cloud I have been able to completely change the way I access my documents and share them with others. I, like a lot of people don’t have a home printer, I have owned one in the past but they run out of ink, take up space and generally (in my case anyway) gather dust. I used to have to email documents I had worked on at home to myself in order to print them or access them in the office, thanks to the cloud I no longer have to do this. Cloud computing has simplified this process. By saving everything to the cloud I can access the most recent version at work, at home, on the move.

Music is the same. Rather than have to store everything on an mp3 player, I can now access a certain album or playlist via my phone to keep me entertained on long journeys without is taking up space. I can share music from my sons band with friends by allowing them access to my cloud, the same with photos or home movies. Whether your parents live in the same city or a different continent you can share with them your children’s school pictures our holiday snaps with ease.

Cloud computing has revolutionized  the way I access and share my files and I couldn’t be happier. I can also rest knowing that if something were to happen to my PC it wouldn’t matter as everything is stored in the sky.

If after reading this you are left thinking, ‘but what is cloud computing?’ I suggest you do some research. I think you’ll like what you find!

Cloud computing has definitely become a buzz word in the last few years in both the business and public sector, however some people are still confused by just what cloud computing is.

My aim with this post is to hopefully clarify a few things.

1. Cloud computing is not a tangible product, it’s not something that arrives in the post, it’s not something you can touch. Cloud computing is a subscription service whereby you access the services of a cloud storage provider over the internet. Rather than install a piece of software on to your PC or Mac, you access the software through a client user interface. The software itself is hosted on the vendors servers instead of your own.

2. Cloud computing is effectively a subscription service. Different vendors offer different terms, but here are three examples of cloud computing service you can get.

a) You can pay for the use of the service. e.g. You pay when you use it.

b) You pay for individual licenses. One per user accessing the software.

c) You sign up to a traditional monthly or yearly contract.

Cloud computing vendors are also known to vary things like features and support based on your subscription choice. Software you have to install personally may only incur a purchase fee, but the maintenance and training costs far out weigh the total cost of any subscription cloud storage system.

3. Cloud computing is almost instantaneous. Unlike software which has to be customized for your needs, purchased, delivered, installed and users trained, cloud computing can be accessed the same day as purchase, the user interface downloaded and the backup completed. IT professionals don’t have to be employed to monitor it, check servers or complete uploads everything is dealt with by the vendor.

There is no doubt that cloud computing is a simpler, more cost effective and a far better means of cloud storage than software options. They say cloud computing is the future, when compared to software, you can see why.

It has been estimated this week, that by 2015 Cloud Computing revenue will reach $1.1 trillion annually. Great for both the economy and employment, cloud computing is set to dominate the business world in record time. With such exponential growth in cloud computing being seen, megatrends are beginning to develop. Mobile Clouds, Social Clouds and Cloud Data Storage are three of the most prolific.

But what is Cloud Computing?

The concept of cloud computing has been around for decades but it is thanks to the improvement of internet speeds and the development of exceptional mobile internet devices, that cloud computing has seen such a dramatic upturn in recent years. Cloud computing is the process whereby you store all your data via a third party provider in what has become known as a cloud. Rather than having to be sat at your computer, wired into the internet, by storing your data in a cloud you are able to access all your data via any internet ready device, anywhere in the world. Cloud computing also protects your data from hackers, natural disaster and human error.

The cloud migration by individuals and businesses alike is happening and gaining speed. As the world becomes more and more reliant on being able to access all our files at anytime, cloud computing is the answer. It will completely revolutionize the concept of the office and save people and businesses in excess of $625 billion.

The cloud computing migration is happening, when are you going to join the crowd?

Cloud computing jobs in the US in February 2012 are 92% up on this time last year and over 400% up on the year before. Boom is an understatement!

As cloud computing becomes ever more integrated into our already heavily technology driven lives it is no wonder the demand for staff is on the up. Cloud computing is quickly become the way businesses access their files on the move and how individual users sync up their internet ready devices. e.g. Their mobile, their PC and their iPad.

Cloud computing skills maybe the most desirable in California at the moment, but you don’t necessarily need cloud computing tech skills to be in with a chance of landing a job. The cloud computing industry is also on the lookout for sales and marketing professionals, management analysts and financial experts.

Will growth set to continue and revenue likely to reach $250 billion in the next 5 years cloud computing is definitely experiencing one hell of a boom.