Cloud computing refers to using remote servers over the Internet for data storage, computing power and more. It’s a major shift in the way businesses think about IT infrastructure, eliminating expensive equipment and allowing businesses to scale resources quickly as demand increases. The most popular cloud services include infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS), platform-as-a-service (PaaS), software-as-a-service (SaaS) and serverless computing.
Cloud-powered workplaces offer the flexibility for employees to work from any location, regardless of their physical proximity to the office. This improves collaboration and productivity, while reducing the need for physical office space. Additionally, cloud-powered workplaces offer top-tier security protections to safeguard sensitive information from cyberattacks and unauthorized access.
The scalability of cloud computing allows businesses to manage surges in website traffic or new product launches without the need for costly IT hardware investments. For example, e-commerce platforms use cloud infrastructure to manage increased online traffic during peak shopping seasons and enable fast deployment of new products and features. Companies also leverage cloud services to handle disaster recovery and to provide data backup, security and storage.
The cost-efficiency of cloud computing helps companies eliminate expensive upfront IT costs, saving on specialized equipment, utilities and management personnel. It also reduces operating expenses, enabling companies to invest in innovation and growth. A company can also increase or decrease cloud hosting capacity as needed, which saves on overhead costs by only paying for the computing resources that are used. This feature can help a business avoid over-provisioning and under-utilization of IT resources, a common problem with traditional IT infrastructure.