What is cloud computing?
Cloud computing provides on-demand access to IT resources through a third-party cloud service provider. The cloud offers individuals and organizations the opportunity to leverage computing power, storage, and databases as needed, without having to invest in buying, owning, and maintaining physical hardware such as data centers and servers.
How does cloud computing work?
We like to keep it simple and cut through the noise. Let’s break it down:
Cloud computing works by allowing you to store and access data and applications over the internet instead of on your computer’s hard drive. With cloud computing, you rent space and computing power from large, secure data centers. This means you can access your files, run software, and use powerful computing resources from anywhere with an internet connection.
Cloud computing is flexible, scalable, and efficient, making it easy to handle everything from storing photos to running business applications.
Who is using cloud computing?
Cloud computing is widely used by lots of people and organizations. Businesses store data and run applications, developers build and deploy apps, and individuals use services for email and file sharing. Schools use cloud services for online learning, government agencies improve public services and secure data, and healthcare providers manage patient records and telemedicine. Cloud computing’s versatility benefits everyone from small businesses to large enterprises and individual users.
Cloud computing is typically used in a pay-as-you-go model to enhance or facilitate:
File storage
Big data analytics
Data backups (BaaS)
Data archiving and digitization
Disaster recovery (DRaaS)
Software testing & development
Infrastructure as a service (IaaS) & Platform as a service (PaaS)
Communication
Social Networking
Business operations & processes
Types of cloud services
Cloud computing enables an organization to benefit from expanded resources in cloud computing platforms and services, paying only for what they need, as they need it. By leveraging the resources of a cloud services provider with a pay-as-you-go cloud deployment model, organizations can enhance the power of cloud computing while reducing costs.
Here’s a breakdown of the different types of pay-as-you-go cloud computing services:
Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS): IaaS is a cloud service that lets you use powerful computers, storage, and networks over the internet instead of buying and maintaining your own hardware. It helps save on costs and allows businesses to quickly scale their IT resources as needed. This cloud service also makes it easier to adopt new software and improves reliability without spending a lot of time or money.
Software-as-a-Service (Saas): SaaS is a way to use software over the internet by paying a subscription fee. It’s a cloud computing delivery model that provides access to software licensed on a subscription basis and centrally hosted by a third-party cloud service provider (CSP). The software is hosted and maintained by a provider on their servers. It’s the most popular way to access software online.
Colocation-as-a-Service (CaaS): CaaS is a service where businesses rent space in a data center to place their own servers and equipment. This lets them control their hardware and data but costs more than using cloud services, where the provider owns and manages the servers. Organizations choose CaaS for better control over data security and compliance.
Types of cloud deployment models
Depending on the needs of the organization and the resources offered by different cloud service providers (CSPs), there are three main choices in types of cloud deployment models. Each of these models is tailored to the resources and desired outcomes of the organization. Where the infrastructure is located and who has control of the infrastructure defines the model.
Private cloud: hosted on-premises or by third-party providers and dedicated to one organization, offering customized options and security features. A private model is located on-site and accessed only by the organization using the cloud technology and cloud services.
Hybrid cloud: a combination of private and public clouds, allowing organizations to leverage the benefits of each and provide seamless integration between on-premises infrastructure and public cloud services. Hybrid cloud computing is gaining rapid adoption due to its customized approach.
Multi-tenant cloud: using multiple public cloud services, often from different cloud providers, to benefit from cost advantages and flexibility in cloud services options.
The cloud and cloud computing benefits
Organizations from enterprises to small businesses and public services are increasingly using cloud computing to achieve scalable growth, innovate faster for new business outcomes and keep a competitive edge.
Advantages of cloud computing:
Cost savings
Organizations only pay for the computing resources they use, protecting them from unnecessary capital expenditures to handle unexpected spikes in demand or business growth.
Flexibility
Enterprises and their users can access cloud services from anywhere with an internet connection, scaling services up or down as their needs change.
Performance
Communication and collaboration are faster and more efficient, streamlining operations, preventing errors, promoting innovation, and providing enhanced customer sales and support.
Strategic value
CSPs stay on top of the latest innovations and offer them as services to companies that want to gain more competitive advantages.
Scalability
As business grows and the needs of the organization evolve, cloud computing allows organizations to scale up or down rapidly and at a reduced cost.
Global access
Cloud computing is a global tool that can accelerate business anywhere, anytime, and provide real-time insights.
Efficiency
Organizations can develop new applications on reliable, proven infrastructure and deploy them rapidly.
Security
CSP security teams are the top experts in IT with global expertise in data security.
Sustainable IT
Data tracking, reporting, and automated compliance tools in cloud computing help organizations maintain sustainable data centers, and more efficient virtual collaboration to help users reduce GHG emissions, lower energy consumption, and divert the use of physical resources.
Remote access
Streamlined collaboration, security, and reliability facilitate remote working, boosting productivity and access to global insights.
Cloud computing and digitization
The adoption of cloud computing has super-powered the digitization of data records, providing increased accessibility and faster, more efficient document retrieval processes. By implementing streamlined cloud-based document workflows organizations can store, manage, and analyze vast amounts of data at a rapid pace.
Police forces and other public service organizations adopt cloud computing for the digitization of records, helping them track trends, gain individual and cumulative data insights, and provide communication between relevant departments and services. Healthcare providers can analyze trends in medical history and cumulative patient data, allowing for more rapid diagnosis and more effective treatments. Retailers can track consumer buying trends and boost sales by serving customers more effectively.
Choosing a cloud service provider
Cloud computing with cloud services from a reliable CSP can broaden the capabilities of an organization, streamline operations, expand business, and protect data. A trusted cloud services provider who understands the global cloud computing market can boost performance, provide data insights, and help the organization grow.
Guidelines for choosing the right CSP:
Cloud-smart approach
Put the needs of the organization first and choose the CSP that most closely aligns with the goals of the organization.
Cloud computing expertise
The right CSP will have the expertise needed to evolve with the digital landscape, staying in tune with the global marketplace, foreign laws, and data security and compliance.
Partnerships
Look for a CSP who can provide options in cloud technology brands that suit the needs of the organization when designing your architecture and cloud services.
Trust and transparency
Cloud computing contracts can be complicated. Read the fine print and understand who the CSP is working with, where their head office and data centers are located, and what foreign laws the CSP may be liable to comply with.
Global access
The location and number of data centers available through the CSP are important to ensure data compliance and data sovereignty in cloud computing.
Hidden costs and simplified pricing
Confirm that all costs are laid out in a straightforward manner with a pricing structure that is easy to understand.
Customer service
Confirm the level and manner of customer support that is being offered.
Are you looking for cloud services?
Cloud computing with cloud services from a reliable CSP can broaden the capabilities of an organization, streamline operations, expand business, and protect data. A trusted cloud services provider who understands the global cloud computing market can boost performance, provide data insights, and help the organization grow.
Consider ThinkOn your dedicated department of data-obsessed experts. We will protect your data like it’s our own, making it more resilient, secure, actionable, and searchable.
Check out how:
Data Center Services
Let us take on the data center burden and expense with our high-security Colocation (CaaS), Critical Compute (IaaS), and Block Storage services.
Critical Data Services
We keep your data backed up, stored, and protected with our fully compliant Data Protection (BaaS), Business Continuity (DRaaS), Data Archiving, and Object Storage services.
Data Archiving
Business Continuity
Let’s talk!
Reach out to sales@ThinkOn.com, and let’s talk cloud computing.
What is cloud in simple terms?
Cloud computing means using internet-based services for things like storing data and running programs. You can access these services whenever you need them, without having to manage any physical equipment yourself.
What are some common use cases for cloud computing?
- Hosting websites and web applications
- Storing and backing up data
- Running big data analytics and machine learning workloads
- Developing and testing software applications
- Hosting virtual desktops and remote work environments
Advantages of cloud computing
- Cost Efficiency: Pay only for the resources you use, reducing capital expenditure on infrastructure.
- Scalability: Easily scale resources up or down to accommodate changing business needs.
- Flexibility: Access computing resources from anywhere with an internet connection.
- Reliability: Cloud providers typically offer high levels of uptime and reliability.
- Security: Cloud providers implement robust security measures to protect data and infrastructure.
What type of cloud computing is best?
- If you want more control and customization, go for Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS).
- If you’re developing software and need a platform to work on, Platform as a Service (PaaS) is great.
- If you just need software to use without worrying about how it’s set up, Software as a Service (SaaS) is the way to go.
The ThinkOn Advantage
Think On, Inc. is a cloud service, channel-only provider with a global data center footprint, dedicated to solving complex data problems through a portfolio of creative, turnkey infrastructure and data management solutions. they are fast, flexible, scalable, highly secure, and cost-effective with predictable pricing and no hidden fees.
ThinkOn’s channel-only distribution model empowers value-add resellers and managed service providers to service the data needs of businesses in commercial enterprise and public sectors across North America, the United Kingdom, Europe, and Australia.
ThinkOn builds its solutions on industry-leading technology platforms engineered to make your data more resilient, secure, actionable, and searchable.