1. Cloud Computing for Businesses

2. What is the cloud? The cloud is simply remote access computing, with all the hardware and software that a business would normally use in-house sitting in a secure, external location. The cloud gives businesses access to greater computing power than ever before. Most UK companies now use it in some form or other, such as Hotmail or Google Docs. By 2014, IT organizations in 30% of Global 1000 companies will broker (aggregate, integrate and customize) two or more Cloud services for internal and external users, up from 5% today. Gartner Research

3. Private vs public cloud If a business is considering adopting cloud technology, the first thing they need to learn is the difference between private and public cloud computing. Private Cloud The private cloud (also called internal cloud or corporate cloud) is cloud infrastructure operated solely for a single organization. The private cloud can be managed internally or by a third-party. The private cloud can be hosted internally or externally. The private cloud gives a more personal touch. But it has a major drawback - the user still has to buy and build it, so they don’t benefit from reduced costs or save time.

4. Private vs public cloud • Public Cloud • The public cloud is the common cloud computing model, where an external service provider makes its resources (like software or data storage) available over the internet. • How it works: • A cloud-provider makes its data centre available for rent. • A business chooses the number of servers or the amount of storage they want. • The business is then be able to access and maintain their information remotely from a PC or mobile device. • The public cloud offers obvious cost-saving benefits, as businesses don’t have to pay for hardware, maintenance or staffing costs.

5. Cloud benefits There are many benefits with cloud computing compared to an on-premise IT solution. In the following slides, we will look at 5 of the biggest and best cloud benefits for business: 1. Cost Savings 2. Security & Reliability 3. Mobility 4. Scalability 5. Ease of Management

6. Cloud benefits 1. Cost Savings With the cloud, businesses don’t have to buy or install any equipment, which removes the need for up-front capital expenditure. Businesses only pay for the cloud-based services they use. According to the International Data Corporation, almost every SME that uses cloud services saves money. MedicAnimal.com, an online supplier of high quality pet care and veterinary products is saving £100,000+ a year by having replaced its entire in-house IT infrastructure with cloud hosting.

7. Cloud benefits • 2. Security & Reliability • Many businesses consider their security and reliability to have been improved by adopting the cloud. • Recent Microsoft US research revealed that: • 94% of SMBs have gained security benefits they did not have with their former on-premises technology. • 62% have seen increased levels of privacy protection. • 75% have experienced improved service availability. • Cloud security is improving all the time. In most cases, cloud providers will have data encryption and security procedures much more advanced than that of their clients. • Good cloud providers run regular automated backups to ensure that a copy of all stored data will be recoverable in the event of a disaster.

8. Cloud benefits 3. Mobility The cloud provides anywhere, anytime access for businesses – enabling all staff (with access) can access the cloud from anywhere in the world, 24-7. The cloud allows business owners to view and control their data, while being spared the hassle of maintaining it! Increasingly, companies are allowing employees to use their own devices both in and out of the office. Cloud computing is the ideal for this, as staff can easily access the cloud from their own devices at home or on the move.

9. Cloud benefits 4. Scalability The cloud provides businesses with scalable computing power. The cloud can be used on a modular basis, so businesses only pay for what they use and can control their resources, with the ability to scale up or down on demand without having to invest in new hardware. The cloud is a flexible solution, and all good cloud providers have a wide range of cloud-computing choices to meet the needs of their business clients.

10. Cloud benefits 5. Ease of Management With the cloud, a business no longer has to worry about computer maintenance. Everything is taken care of. All the work happens automatically in the background. A good cloud provider will take care of managing software upgrades and maintaining server equipment for its clients. Installation is painless – a good cloud provider will cover all aspects of migration for their clients. They will make the process quick and painless – usually no more than a few days.

11. Cloud summary Gartner research has forecasted that more than 50% of businesses will adopt and implement some kind of cloud-based application by the end of 2015. Gartner has also forecasted that the cloud will dominate the digital lives of consumers by 2014 - replacing the personal computer. The idea of cloud computing might still seem daunting; but the time, money and energy saving benefits can offer significant competitive advantages. The cloud is going to be a part of the business world from now on – is it time you got on board?

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