If you are using internet banking, you are already familiar with and using ‘the Cloud’. Cloud computing is a general term for anything that involves delivering hosted services over the Internet.
Cloud can be compared to the supply of electricity. Electricity
is provided to you without you needing to know how the service is
provided or how you fit into the grid. You simply signup with a
supplier, switch on and use the service/electricity. You can even
choose plans to suit your needs (ie high usage or energy saver).
You wouldn't build your own power station or generator in the back
garden and continue to maintain this, would you? In the same
fashion, why would you build your own IT infrastructure or maintain
an existing one or want to understand how to provider yourself with
these services. It is much simpler to choose a provider, switch on
and use, leaving the technical hassle and detail to the
provider.
A cloud can be private or public. A public cloud sells services
to anyone on the Internet. A private cloud is a proprietary network
or a data centre that supplies hosted services to a limited number
of people. Private or public, the goal of cloud computing is to
provide easy, scalable access to computing resources and IT
services. Cloud Solutions enable businesses to access their
business critical data from anywhere there is an internet
connection thus increasing flexibility and productivity. It
eliminates the need for onsite hardware and therefore reduces the
business risk and capital expenditure. With no hardware to
maintain, support costs are reduced. Simply put, businesses can
concentrate on their core business, leaving the IT &
Telecommunications to the experts.
Many companies are now investing in cloud computing and research
groups are researching new ways to put it to good use as it is a
scalable and cost effective alternative. Gartner predicts that 'By
2012, 20% of businesses will own no IT assets. Several interrelated
trends are driving the movement toward decreased IT hardware
assets, such as virtualization, cloud-enabled services, and
employees running personal desktops and notebook systems on
corporate networks. The need for computing hardware, either in a
data centre or on an employee's desk, will not go away. However, if
the ownership of hardware shifts to third parties, then there will
be major shifts throughout every facet of the IT hardware industry.
For example, enterprise IT budgets will either be shrunk or
reallocated to more-strategic projects; enterprise IT staff will
either be reduced or reskilled to meet new requirements.'
The end result - hassle free, scalable and cost effective IT
& Telecommunications solutions!