Get a glimpse of IT’s top computing trend that has been making waves in the tech world
Article by Kristine Magadia
Cloud computing is the term often used to describe online computing. In principle, it is the use of a web-based computing technology for various services. One operates a centralized computing infrastructure which can be accessed easily, making it a very efficient way of managing one’s data centre. Thus, over time, more companies have discovered and plunged into using this mechanism in running their businesses.
Cloud computing is usually referred to as software hosted online or more commonly regarded as Software-as-a-Service (SaaS). An example of a cloud computing product is the Customer Relationship Management (CRM), which manages your entire customer database online. Other examples would be invoicing, quoting, managing your cash flow, accounting and various online tools to effectively run and manage your business online.
Among the products widely known in the marketplace include SalesForce.com, a company solely based on providing SaaS. Customers of such companies are charged with a subscription fee to be able to have their software hosted on a central server, which they can directly access online. Other products and services include the following: e-Commerce, Intranets, Extranets, Web Applications, eMarketing, and Web Site Design, among others.
Why use SaaS?
- Save money – A typical software implementation involves purchasing and maintaining servers, housing them securely, and installing and maintaining the software. Aside from the expenses related to setting up a personal data centre, this set up also requires the time and effort of experienced IT personnel.
However, when you subscribe to a SaaS application, you avoid the overhead costs associated with implementing software on your computer system/network. Companies also tend to incur huge savings as they only pay for what they need since they will only be charged according to their actual usage levels.
- Save time – Deployment time tends to be shorter with a SaaS application than a traditional one. This is due to the elimination of many of the typical implementation tasks associated with licensed software and the software already being up and running in a data centre.
- Access to the latest innovations – Contrary to a licensed software which requires a user to wait for the next release to get the latest benefits, using SaaS does not demand long waiting time since a user can readily install the update and after that, the latest features will appear in the web site browser.
Going green with the Cloud
Aside from running a business efficiently, cloud computing also helps save the planet. The moment a company shifts its entire infrastructure to cloud, its total energy consumption goes down. Thus, employing this model can serve as an initial step towards lowering emissions which are harmful to the natural environment.
Hence, we can deduce the following thought:
Fewer computers used = lesser coal burnt = lesser total carbon footprint.
Many regard cloud computing as the future of computing. It is then all the more important to make the future of this computing model work for us. Businesses should take advantage of the many benefits cloud computing offers.
As they say, every cloud has a silver lining.
About the Founder
Jason Shico is the founder/CEO of DigiCloud Pty Ltd, a newly launched cloud computing company based in Australia. DigiCloud offers small to midsized businesses with tools to manage their business online. Among the services/products it delivers include online storage and back-up, database design and programming, website design and hosting, online marketing, e-commerce and online software solutions.
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