What are the benefits of cloud services?
More and more companies turn to cloud computing every day. One of the biggest reasons for this is that it separates hardware and computing. For example, with cloud services, you get:
This innovative approach to computing unlocks countless benefits for businesses. Here are the three most important:
Cost
Traditional IT systems need hardware and software to run. Not to mention, you also need space to store servers and electricity to power equipment. Cloud services take all this out of the equation, and you only pay for what you need.
Scale
Cloud services give you the freedom to scale up and down on demand. For example, your IT infrastructure can grow with your business over the next few years. Or you can spin services up and down from week to week. It’s completely up to you.
Flexibility
Without server rooms, expensive hardware, and data centers to deal with, IT is flexible. When it's time to grow or change business directions, your IT easily pivots with you. And it pivots without all the extra costs.
Types of cloud services
There are four types of cloud service categories and each one builds on top of the other to form a stack.
Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS)
✔️ Rent IT infrastructure
✔️ Servers and networks
✔️ Storage, operating systems, virtual machines, and more
Software-as-a-Service (SaaS)
✔️ On-demand cloud applications
✔️ Connect to the application via the Internet (usually a web browser or mobile app)
✔️ Includes the infrastructure and platform required to run those applications
Platforms-as-a-Service (PaaS)
✔️ On-demand software application environment
✔️ Used to develop, test, and manage software apps
✔️ Includes IT infrastructure required to run those applications
Function-as-a-Service (FaaS)
✔️ Build, run, and manage application packages as functions
✔️ Developers don’t have to manage the IT infrastructure that’s required to run it
✔️ Doesn’t require servers to constantly run
How are cloud services delivered?
There are three ways to deliver cloud services and each one serves a different purpose. The type of cloud services you use depends on your business, your needs, and your budget. Here’s a look at each so you can better understand why each one is valuable:
Public cloud services
Third-party cloud service providers own public clouds and “rent” them out to businesses. Each business pays a recurring fee for the software, infrastructure, or whatever they need. Businesses then use web browsers to access the services they pay for.
Private cloud services
Individual businesses can own private clouds. Businesses can then host their private cloud themselves onsite, or pay a third party to host it for them. Either way, private cloud services are maintained through private networks.
Hybrid cloud services
Companies use hybrid cloud services to share data across private and public clouds. When businesses use a mix of public and private, they’re able to enhance:
✔️ Infrastructure
✔️ Security and compliance
✔️ Flexibility
The future of cloud services
Companies across the world are already changing how they use IT. It's largely due to the flexibility and freedom that cloud services offer. As cloud services continue to get more and more sophisticated, so will the companies that embrace new technology. We can look forward to:
