The Cloud - What is it?

Are my photos, documents and passwords floating somewhere above my head in a technological nimbostratus?

And what was wrong with the old way of computing?

And relax...

In this short article, we’ll answer some commonly asked questions about the cloud, including –

•    Why did we need it?
•    What is it?
•   Who provides it?
•   What’s the difference between the Public, Private and Hybrid Cloud?
•   What is IaaS, SaaS and PaaS?

We’ll also explain how SMEs could save an average of 36% on IT costs, if they switched over to the Cloud.

But first…

Why did we need the Cloud?

If you were running a small business ‘back in the day’ and wanted to manage your own IT network, things got expensive.

Firstly, you’d need a server.

If you had a small office, 3 or 4 staff and not a huge customer base - depending on your budget and IT requirements, you’d pay around ￡700 - ￡1500 for a very basic entry-level server.

At the top of the SME scale, you’d expect to pay anything from ￡5000 - ￡20,000 and upwards for a high-end tower or rack server.

‘Not too bad,’ I hear you say – ‘a business needs to invest once in a while.’

But, on top of the initial outlay for the server, you’d need to factor in:

•      Servicing and managing costs
•      Data backup
•      Cyber security
•      Ongoing customer support
•      Extra (ventilated or possibly air-conditioned) space needed to house the server.

OK, it wasn’t all bad - businesses and organisations functioned and many still function using physical servers, but what about the smaller businesses with much smaller budgets – how did they get a piece of the action?

Something had to change.

And thankfully it did – which leads us swiftly on to the next commonly asked question:

What is the Cloud?

Without complicating things too much - the Cloud is the internet.

We could sound clever and say -

‘It’s a global network of external servers that manage and process your data’

 â€“ but essentially, it’s the internet.

What’s all the fuss about the Cloud then?

Simply put, the Cloud is a better way of using the internet.

It’s about taking the physical server and all the hardware and software associated with it, onto the internet.

Once in the Cloud, all the data and the services your server used to provide, can be accessed via most modern devices (as long as you have WIFI) from anywhere in the world.

It all sounds quite simple, but to achieve this ‘technological utopia’, it does get slightly more technical,

But don’t panic - we’ll keep it as clear and as jargon-free as possible.

Here goes:

There are 3 types of Cloud - each one a different way of deploying Cloud-based services:

1-  Public: A Cloud service across the internet anybody can use.

2-  Private: A single tenant Cloud with all resources controlled by a single organisation.

3-  Hybrid: A mixture of the Public and Private Cloud.

Once you know which Cloud suits your business, you need to decide on a Cloud Service Provider (CSP).

What is a Cloud Service Provider?

A Cloud Service Provider, such as Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud or AWS (Amazon Web Service) is a company that provides you with your Cloud-based services i.e. the services you used to get from your physical server.

The 3 most common Cloud-based services are:

• IaaS (Infrastructure As A Service): A Cloud-based service for companies that want their IT infrastructure handled externally. Typically pay-as-you-go, IaaS is the ideal solution for businesses whose data storage and other IT requirements fluctuate throughout the year.
• SaaS (Software As A Service): A way of getting your software, such as Office 365, Gmail or Hotmail, via an application rather than downloading it. One of the main advantages of the SaaS model for the smaller business, is that customers pay only for what they need for software making it easier to compete with larger businesses.
• PaaS (Platform As A Service): A service that allows customers to develop, test, deploy and manage everything, from simple apps to enterprise applications, whilst the Cloud Provider handles software licenses and app infrastructure.

To find out which Cloud and which Cloud-based services are right for you, it’s best to speak to an IT consultant.

A good IT consultant will make sure your Cloud implementation is seamless, stress-free and the most cost-efficient solution for your business.

And finally…

How can the Cloud help SMEs save on average 36% on IT services?

The main reason SMEs save by getting into the Cloud, is that they no longer have to spend money on services they’re not using.

Imagine you run a florist or a school uniform shop – your takings and customer numbers are going to differ depending on the time of year.

What happens to all that storage when things go quiet?

Nothing.

You just continue paying for something you’re not using.

With the Cloud however, you only pay for the services and storage you require.

So, if you have a quiet period, you pay very little and sometimes nothing at all.

But, when it gets busier, the Cloud automatically provides the level of service you need to see you through, and you pay for what you use.

According to hostingtribunal.com:

‘The average savings from cloud migration come to around 15% on all IT spending. Small and medium businesses benefit the most, as they spend 36% less money on IT that way.’

And…breathe

The Cloud is the future – there’s no getting away from it.

The Cloud has made computing inside and outside of the workplace, far more flexible, accessible and cost-efficient.

It’s also given SMEs the scalability to grow faster and beyond expectations.

A Global Phenomenon

With the global Cloud Computing Market set to exceed $330 billion this year, and 80% of companies expected to migrate to the Cloud by 2025, the time for doubting is running out.

So, if you’ve thought about the Cloud or are keen to get in but not sure how to go about it, contact JamCrackers for your FREE Consultation.

We have all the technical know-how to answer any question you might have and to find the perfect Cloud solution for your business.