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THE CLOUD MAKES IT HAPPEN

For any business, big and small, cloud computing can be a game-changer. Accentureโ€™s Cloud Continuum Survey revealed that 10% of cloud adopters have experienced cost savings while 15% have enjoyed greater profitability. In terms of adoption, the UK is top of the heap with 98% of businesses utilising some form of cloud computing. For those who perhaps arenโ€™t so familiar with this form of business technology, letโ€™s take a look at what cloud computing is and how you can benefit by moving further along the cloud continuum.

WHAT IS CLOUD COMPUTING?

Put simply, the cloud is nothing more than another term for โ€˜internet.โ€™ As such, cloud computing encompasses the delivery of services such as servers, data storage, databases, networking, software, applications, analytics, and intelligence over the internet. Businesses typically use one of three cloud computing models:

  • Infrastructure as a Service or IaaS is a pay-as-you-go service offering storage, networking and servers. Hardware and software components are also included in the deal. Applications and data storage are not included in IaaS.
  • Platform as a Service or PaaS is designed for software development where the service provider offers access to a cloud-based environment in which users can build and deliver applications. Again, applications and data storage are not included in PaaS.
  • Software as a Service or SaaS is the one most of us use, possibly without even knowing it. SaaS providers offer a subscription service to public cloud-based networking, storage, servers, data storage and applications. Examples include Microsoft Office 365, G-Suite, Dropbox, Canva, Shopify, Netflix, Adobe and Uber. The list goes on and on.

Typically, businesses that use any of these cloud models experience faster innovation, flexibility of resources and economies of scale.

UPSIDES OF THE CLOUD

Besides saving money and increasing your profits, the cloud also offers these benefits:

  • you and your colleagues can work from anywhere at anytime
  • packages such as Office 365 and Google Workspace mean you can collaborate from anywhere on the planet โ€“ you just need an internet connection
  • a competitive edge over your business rivals
  • high-speed access and deployment of data and applications
  • reliability and automated software updates
  • unlimited storage capacity

Using the cloud also makes it much easier to meet the UK government and GDPR compliance requirements.

ANY DOWNSIDES?

One of the biggest downsides of using the cloud is if your provider has a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack. This is when the hostโ€™s servers experience too much traffic and fails to respond to all requests. Remember that you are publicly sharing resources with millions of others so do your due diligence before choosing your cloud provider. Being cut off from the internet can put a dent in your revenue, damage your reputation and result in loss of business. Besides the reality of a DDoS meltdown, other disadvantages of the cloud include

  • technical issues โ€“ despite your provider having a high standard of maintenance
  • downtime caused by a power outage or service maintenance
  • cybersecurity risks โ€“ remember you are sharing all of your precious data with a third party, making it vulnerable to hacking
  • lack of online support

Remember that good internet connectivity and bandwidth are a must when using the cloud. For entirely cloud-based businesses this can be problematic.

HOW POPULAR IS IT?

As we said, only 2% of UK businesses have yet to move to the cloud. The European Union, on the other hand, is not a big fan of cloud computing with an adoption rate of only 45% in 2022. Asia and the Pacific, have bought into the technology, with more than 90% of businesses using the cloud. Surprisingly, the United States, the birthplace of Microsoft, Google and Amazon, has a lower adoption rate than the UK, coming in at 94%.

OTHER FASCINATING FACTS

Here are a few awesome cloud computing statistics:

  • 30% of all IT budgets are allocated to cloud computing
  • last year use of the public cloud grew by 35%
  • the global public cloud market will be worth more than $600 billion next year
  • the data stored in cloud data centres will exceed 100 Zettabytes by 2025

THE CLOUD CONTINUUM

Depending on your business operation, youโ€™ll probably be on a different part of the cloud continuum spectrum.

  • Private cloud โ€“ cloud computing dedicated only to a single business and used by those that need a high level of compliance, security and efficiency
  • Public cloud โ€“ cloud computing thatโ€™s delivered via the internet and shared by millions of businesses
  • Hybrid cloud โ€“ using a mix of private and public cloud

Private cloud is typically used by the financial, transportation, healthcare and streaming sectors. Public cloud is used by businesses needing flexible pricing, high scalability and reduced complexity. Hybrid cloud is a cheaper option than private and offers better remote support and more control than public cloud.

GET THE BEST OF OUT OF THE CLOUD

Unless youโ€™re one of the lonely 2%, you are already somewhere along the cloud continuum. We can help to move you further and ensure that you get the best from cloud computing. Zheroโ€™s Deliver IT Better solutions have been designed to make the cloud work on your terms, whether you opt for ZheroPrivate Cloud or ZheroPublic Cloud. Deliver IT better ensures that your cloud infrastructure is completely dependable and always on. Get in touch with us today and see how we deliver better IT faster.

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