Oceanhost is not referring to you picking up your golden harp and knocking at the Pearly Gates. It is, of course, referring tocloud computing- an extension of virtualisation, where the majority of computer hardware is embodied within online IT services.
"The cloud" is busy revolutionising the way we work, by allowing us access to an almost limitless number of virtual servers, resulting in reduced costs, exceptional flexibility and ease of access among many other benefits. Its architecture has been built with the Internet specifically in mind, and it makes use of standard browsers and servers in a virtual environment.
However, there seems to be a lack of understanding in the marketplace about how the cloud may benefit companies, so Oceanhost is going to clear up some of the fog for you.
Cloud cuts costs while increasing IT resources
Since any traditional server may be run in the cloud, it stands to reason that companies who no longer want to keep their servers on-site, or who want their on-site servers to replicate with another server in a data centre, will benefit from this technology.
There is a vast cost-saving implication for these companies, as they have the option of paying a cheaper monthly fee as opposed to the expensive once-off investment for traditional server hardware.
They will also have the benefit of increasing this cloud server resource as and when required. Multiple cloud servers may also be used to replicate between data centres for ultimate redundancy.
Cloud allows for unlimited backups
The cloud is perfect for either single users needing to backup photos of granny from the last seaside holiday or other personal documentation; as well as for companies requiring a facility to backup user computers or server data. Utilising a cloud computing service thus makes perfect sense if your budget does not accommodate a ton of duplicate infrastructure.
Cloud is perfect for hosting Web sites and avoiding downtime
Web hosting companies have also realised the value of hosting their clients' sites in the cloud in order to minimise single points of failure.
Similarly, mission-critical Web sites- where downtime is just not an option- are perfect candidates for cloud hosting. These sites can be auto-scaled at peak times; such as at times when a low cost airline, for example, is running a campaign for discounted flights. During this time, the traffic on their site increases dramatically. By using cloud computing technology, additional servers are automatically created and the load is then balanced across the servers for maximum performance. Once the load reduces again, the servers scale back and the airline will only be billed for the additional cloud servers used during those peak times. So, in other words, cloud hosting will keep a a low cost airline company in the clouds - literally and virtually!
Cloud reduces software expenditure
SaaS may be another acronym which you have heard of. It stands for software as a service and is a cost-effective way of running software. Instead of purchasing the software and running it on your hard drive, you pay a monthly fee and connect to the cloud when you want to use it. Still confused? Examples of this are Office 365, CRM software, accounting software, etc.
Cloud computing is enabling the Internet to truly become a global network with the ability to access stored data and services from anywhere in the world - as long as you have an Internet connection! With so many benefits and very few negatives, cloud computing is definitely a technology that companies will need to consider in the near future.
Share