When taking the major step of integrating new technology into your business, there are a variety of options to consider. However, it’s important to first build a technological foundation that is scalable so that your business can grow smoothly over time. The best way to accomplish this is to move computing services over to the cloud as quickly as possible. Cloud computing has been on the rise in the last decade with an astounding 94% of companies using cloud services in 2022.
Take the time to learn everything there is to know about cloud computing, including the three primary types, to determine how to integrate this technology into your business to increase the efficiency of existing processes.
What is “The Cloud”?
Starting with the basics, it’s important to look at what exactly “The Cloud” refers to. Naturally, this term doesn’t refer to the fluffy white objects that sit overhead every day. The cloud is actually an interconnected group of servers that are accessed by devices remotely over the Internet, as opposed to a hardwired connection.
For example, if a person uploads a photo to the cloud from their phone so that it is stored off their device, that photo is sent to a database that could be hundreds, if not thousands of miles away. If a person deletes the original copy but wants to access the photo later, they login with their cloud credentials and can download the photo from that server at a later time.
How Does the Cloud Differ from Standard Computing?
As alluded to above, cloud computing differs significantly from standard computing. In the past, a connection to servers needed to be hard-wired, meaning that the servers were in the same location as the device accessing them. Consider an office building that has servers stored underground that each of the computers in that building connect to. This would be an example of standard computing. Cloud computing occurs entirely over the Internet, though, and requires a stable Internet connection as a result.
The 3 Common Cloud Types Explained
A lesser known fact about cloud computing is that there is actually more than one type of cloud computing to consider. Specifically, there are three different forms of cloud computing for businesses, and each offers specific advantages and disadvantage for certain business types:
- The Private Cloud
The first and most common type of cloud computing setup for larger businesses is a private cloud structure. This structure involves a single cloud computing environment that is dedicated to a single organization. The entire cloud is managed by the one organization, and all security measures must be integrated and handled by that organization as well.
- The Public Cloud
The second type of cloud setup that is commonly seen among smaller businesses with a tighter budget is a public cloud infrastructure. A public cloud is cloud computing services offered by a third-party that is made available to the broader public Internet. Businesses can use public cloud services but so can individuals. This third-party handles the management of any data along with the security measures for the cloud.
- The Hybrid Cloud
Finally, the third type of cloud setup that is seen occasionally is a hybrid style infrastructure. This type of cloud setup involves a company using both private and public cloud setups. Typically, the private cloud is used for sensitive company information or data, whereas the public cloud services are used for less sensitive items such as work communication.
Notable Pain Points When Integrating Cloud Services
While cloud computing certainly has a large number of benefits, there are also a few common pain points that arise with cloud computing integration which are worth covering. In particular, there are four main issues that commonly arise:
A Sharp Increase in Departmental Downtime
One of the biggest mistakes a person often makes when integrating cloud computing into their business is transitioning all departments over to the cloud at once. The problem with this strategy is that upon testing and validating the integration, an issue that arises affects all departments at once. This causes the entire department to shut down until it is fixed eventually. To avoid this, only focus on one department at a time with the cloud computing integration.
A Lack of Understanding Regarding Customizations
Cloud computing is not as straightforward as a person may think. There are a number of customizations that can be chosen when handling the integration, but they often come at a cost and take time to deploy. When a person accidentally chooses the wrong integration, they waste both time and money on a feature that is not necessary for their business.
A Potential for Limited Control and Flexibility
For those companies using a public cloud or hybrid cloud model, there will be limited control and flexibility over the data that is stored within the cloud. This can create security risks for an organization which result in issues down the road. Should a company have sensitive data, it’s best to simply invest in a private cloud setup so that these issues are avoided entirely.
A Higher Cost than Originally Anticipated
Finally, many businessowners go into the cloud computing integration process without fully understanding the cost associated with the integration. By not allocating enough money towards the integration, a business will not be able to integrate everything they need to enhance their business processes.
Enhance your business processes today
When it comes to improving the productivity and efficiency of a business, there is no single correct path to consider. With that in mind, though, all businesses need to place an emphasis on setting themselves up for growth in the future. The best way to accomplish this is to integrate cloud computing services on a regular basis that enhance your existing business processes. Determine which of the three described cloud computing structures is right for your business and use the aforementioned pain points to avoid common integration problems.