Cloud computing has changed the way we work. Businesses can deliver services faster, at a smaller cost, and with more efficiency.
Although it was already widely adopted before the pandemic, the shift to work-from-home has made it more popular than ever. Employees can access all the resources they need to carry out tasks wherever they are.
The statistics make it clear that businesses that have not adopted remote servers are losing out. According to an article by Techjury, 60% of businesses had moved their functions to the cloud by 2022. The global cloud computing market is expected to grow by more than $460 billion by the end of 2025.
At the same time, the infrastructure is expected to get cheaper, making it easier for small businesses to adopt. Small and medium-sized business are keen to make the move because it is cost-effective and come with tangible benefits.
What is cloud computing?
If you’re new to it you may be confused because a lot of technical terms are thrown around when it comes to cloud computing. In a nutshell, it is the delivery of computing services through the internet rather than investing in storage space yourself.
Not too long ago, businesses had to buy servers to store data. This forced them to invest in expensive infrastructure (servers, databases and networking systems) not to mention highly-paid IT employees to keep the systems operational. It was expensive and time-consuming.
With cloud computing, these functions are now someone else’s headache. Companies like Amazon, Oracle and Microsoft store business data and programs and make it accessible to all employees wherever they are so long as they have an internet connection.
This kind of infrastructure isn’t just for businesses. We all use cloud computing every day. Whenever you access your Gmail account, for example, you are connecting to a remote server.
If you tried to see your email without an internet connection you wouldn’t have access, but as soon as you are connected the information you’re looking for appears on your phone.
Without clouds, our devices would be bigger than they are today because we would need lots more storage.
It is the same for businesses; remote servers have made it easier to manage data and reduce costs.
How do businesses benefit from cloud computing?
This is an important consideration to take into account because this type of infrastructure is not free. Companies that offer remote server services charge a fee, hence the need to understand the benefits of this type of data storage.
Below are some of the advantages of using cloud servers:
- Team members can collaborate wherever they are
Collaboration is a big element of productivity. Teams that can work closely and share information are more productive. Cloud computing allows employees to access information and data and talk to each other. They can complete tasks faster.
Information is accurate and consistent which helps companies and businesses serve markets better.
- Data is safe and secure
When cloud computing emerged many businesses resisted it because they believed that they had better control of their data in-house.
Hackers have debunked this fallacy. Businesses that have in-house servers are more likely to be breached than those that rely on cloud computing.
According to one report, private servers are breached because of human error. Business files have inconsistent permissions and only 5% are properly protected.
Indeed, big businesses are also hacked, but those that rely on clouds are more secure than those that don’t.
Whether or not you use cloud storage you should implement robust data protocols throughout your business. StartSmart Solutions has excellent tips on how you can improve in-house data security.
Companies that provide cloud infrastructure can spend more on security than small businesses can. Their core purpose is to ensure that client data is safe.
Microsoft and Amazon, for example, can afford to pay the best minds to improve data security and accessibility. Small businesses cannot afford to devote the same amount of resources and expertise to protect data.
- The infrastructure is scalable
This type of computing allows businesses to grow without investing more in data storage. Cloud services are sold in tiers, and as a business grows it only needs to pay for the tier that provides sufficient storage.
The cost is much lower than an investment in additional servers.
- Software upgrades are free
Not long ago software creators charged for every update. That was one of the ways they monetized. Not every business could afford to pay for every upgrade.
Cloud computing has eliminated the need to pay for upgrades.
- Quick data recovery means little downtime
There was a time when it was difficult for companies to recover data once it was lost. It involved paying a professional to try and find important files and even this wasn’t guaranteed.
Data that sits in a remote server is like a backup that is always there. If a business loses in-house files for any reason, it can access them from the cloud service provider with a few clicks.
- Businesses have access to the best technologies
Cloud servers come with the latest technologies that businesses need to keep data safe and accessible at all times. Small businesses would have a hard time paying for these technologies directly.
Should you learn cloud computing?
The demand for cloud computing professionals is expected to grow in the coming decade. An online master’s in data science will give you the skills that employers seek.
Rather than struggle with other IT workers for general IT jobs, you can stand apart from the crowd by earning a degree that imparts cloud computing skills.
An online master’s in data science provides insights into large-scale data management and teaches how to make the right architecture decisions for different businesses. It helps you understand data warehousing techniques and where they are best applied.
Apart from cloud computing, the degree covers modules like data mining and analysis, applied data science and data visualization.
Conclusion
Cloud computing is the way of the future. Businesses that adopt it and learn how to use it properly are ahead of those that insist on the old ways of storing data and programs.
A master’s in data science gives you an edge over other IT professionals. It will equip you with the valuable skills that all businesses seek. Whether you go into business for yourself or seek employment you can expect a finically fulfilling career.
