Cloud computing can remake the whole way you carry out the business. It allows you to properly store data and use software and hardware all across the internet, based on where you need them. Therefore, you also use cloud computing with a proper single solution and an appropriate computer structure.
Cloud technology carries out cheaper and faster operations for businesses, although sometimes there are concerns about different security issues and how positive things become.
The whole guide looks at the benefits and downsides of using cloud computing for business. It will tell you how cloud computing works and whether it is proper for the company and what you should figure out when using cloud computing services.
It also covers the risks involved in it – like protecting information, business progression, and problems around service provisions.
How Cloud Computing Works
Cloud computing produces a method of managing computer resources on the internet.
Instead of getting computer resources from a shop, whether it is hardware or software, or with cloud computing you are trying to rent these services from a service provider, you should pay for what you need.
Cloud computing consists of four major elements:
Large-scale data centers are hosted on different servers.
Services – Eg. Software and hardware resources obtained online.
Computers and other web-devices – Laptops, android tablets, or mobile devices.
Broadband or 3G Internet Connections
Documents and emails or client details and apps can be stored online like 'in the cloud' and can be accessed on a virtual model and is on-demand all across the internet on a web browser.
Cloud Deployment Models
Cloud computing has four different structures in terms of access and options for security:
Public cloud – where there are services and infrastructure available to the public and produced off-site on the internet with a third-party provider.
The private cloud is where the services and infrastructure are given to an individual client and adequately maintained on a private network either at the service provider's data center or in-house.
Community cloud – where there is a group of clients trying to access the cloud service resources and share specific requirements where the service will provide.
Hybrid cloud – where you match different sources of resources based on technical or business needs.
To figure out what cloud model is the best for your business, you might want to consider:
How you currently use your computer systems and applications.
What type of services that you might want to move to the cloud.
Different service levels and support that you might need.
Proper budget
Regulatory or data protection problems relating to these services.
Read more about different service models here.
What Are Cloud Service Models
There are three different cloud computing service models that are available. Depending on the requirements, the business can use one service model or all three service models.
Software as a Service (Saas)
SaaS is the purest form of cloud computing used by SMEs, and it involves using different software on remote servers. It will let you run apps on your web browser and save, or take back files outside the business.
Examples of SaaS include different services like:
Email using an online network.
Software for online office.
CRM system.
Tools that allow collaborative working.
SaaS gives a lot of flexibility when you compare it to traditional computer systems, letting you scale the computer requirements quickly and efficiently to meet the business's different needs. See more on the benefits of Saas for doing business.
Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
Iaas lets businesses use virtual hardware resources to recreate their computer infrastructure. All these will include:
Space for the server
Facilities for storing data.
Hardware for networking.
As with SaaS, you can change or expand the storage capacity that you need. Other benefits will include a cut down on the computer costs, and outsourcing the hardware requirements, and you do not have to buy it or have the best expert technicians to maintain it.
Platform as a Service (PaaS)
PaaS involves using online app development capabilities to create and adept apps to suit your business requirements. The software development tools and hardware that you need to attain this will be called 'cloudware.' All these things will be located in a remote place and easily accessed across the internet.
Benefits of Cloud Computing
Cloud computing will give the business a large number of benefits. It lets you set up an online office with access to the tools and services wherever all the time, through an online device.
It also helps you to:
Cut down costs related to hardware and software.
Support flexible working schedules
Scale the computer systems
Cut down the need for computer support in-house.
Access reliable and proper backup for the business data.
Lower Computer Costs
Cloud computing is also natural to cut costs and maintain or upgrade computer systems and apps. For example:
Having all the business apps produced on the internet means you do not have to install and correctly set up the software yourself.
Maintenance and different upgrades are properly managed off-site by the service provider.
Operational cost savings can be attained by cutting down levels of in-house technical experts that you need – which allows you to focus on the business.
Greater Scalability
Cloud computing allows the business to easily upscale or downscale the computer requirements when it is needed. For example, most cloud service providers will let you upgrade from one package to another to accommodate different business needs or changes made to the market condition. This will then help your business grow without incurring expensive extra costs to your current computer systems.
Access to the Latest Technologies
Cloud computing will help to make sure that you always have the best technology at hand. You do not have to worry about updating the software and getting newer technology – as the service provider will do all of this on your behalf. It also gives the user access to software or hardware and computer functionality as it is rather costly to buy right off.
More Flexibility
Cloud computing will let the employees have more flexibility, both in the workplace and out of the workstation. Workers can access files using devices accessible to the internet, like mobile devices, laptops, and android tablets. The ability to continuously share documents and other data across the web also helps to support both internal and external work together.
Enterprise-level Backing Up
Cloud services also give the business with a backup on the enterprise. While there are a few things regarding data protection, cloud computing will be able to get your business access to a substitute professionally for all the company's information.
While cloud computing will benefit a lot of businesses, it does not occur without its disadvantages. Read about all the downsides of cloud computing.
Downsides of Cloud Computing
Despite having many benefits of cloud computing, it is not without any problems. You should know that if you want to move the whole business into a cloud service provider.
Cloud Security and Data
Many cloud service providers integrate security standards and industry qualifications to make sure the cloud environment is safe. However, keeping proper data and business files in online data centers will expose you to many risks.
Common risks are:
Data loss or theft.
Leakage of data
Account hijacking
Interfaces that are not secure.
Service attacks
Technology vulnerabilities.
The proper security levels are achieved and maintained adequately by different service cloud providers. You have to correctly pick the service provider and make sure the provider is stable and reputable and produce proper terms and conditions of the service. Read more about these things here.
Cloud Downtime
Like any other computer service provider set up, the cloud service provider might still have to go through specific problems like computer rebooting, network outage, and downtime. All these incidents can destroy business operations and different processes, which can damage the business.
You also have to properly plan for maximum downtime to minimize impact and how the occurrence occurs and make sure there is a maximum service given to the clients and staff. Read more relating to cloud downtime and business progression.
Limited Control
The cloud service provider, however, definitely still own and manage the whole cloud infrastructure. As the client, you will have minimal control over it. You will be able to handle all the apps, data, and services operating on the cloud, but you do not have access to other administrative tasks, like updating firmware, etc.
To control tasks, you might want to assess to analyze the computer risk before you give any control to the service provider.
Data Protection and Cloud Computing
Data protection and other privacy issues are considered as significant risks when keeping personal information in the cloud. The hazards of the knowledge of the cloud include:
Loss or damages caused by the service provider and their workers.
Access that is not legal
Activities targeting the service provider – hacking or sending malware and trojans
Lousy security practices relating to data protection.
Before picking a proper cloud computing service, you have to carry out a risk analysis of these problems and the potential effect on the business.
Cloud and Data Protection Rules and Regulations
If you want to store a piece of proper personal information on the cloud service provider, you might have to bear the general responsibility for complying with the GDPR.
Under these data protection rules and regulations, a cloud service client is viewed as a data controller to determine the objective and how the data is processed correctly. Therefore, you will have to bear the responsibility for how the information is handled if you do not have complete control over the cloud service provider.
As a data controller, you have to make sure that:
The personal data processed is secure, even if the cloud provider carries out the processing.
Data is not sent out of the EU area unless the country's destination and the reasons for transfer have a proper level of protection.
If you have a written contract currently in place with the service provider, and the whole agreement has a high level of security for the data, and the user can only process the data based on your instructions.
You might also need to establish:
What is the level of the service provider's responsibility, and you can assure yourself of the security and service continuation?
Whether there are provisions to compensate the company owner if there is a breach of security.
Suppose the service cloud provider does not offer you any assurance about the security of the security. In that case, it might be they do not put enough effort into the data protection, and the risk of the data protection getting hacked might become higher compared to necessary.
Data Protection Levels
Service providers will then operate on all different server requirements for a cloud computing system. It includes database management systems for other data applications, like e-commerce or CRM.
A high level of data protection is also needed for such applications. You might have to view the contract and agreement signed with your service provider to see what security measures the provider takes to protect the information.
View more about cloud service providers here.
Cloud Downtime and Business Progression
In the case of system failure, business progression planning will help ensure that business survives.
Cloud as A Business Progression Solution
Cloud computing is also a part of the business progression plan.
Cloud computing service providers also back up and protect the data by hosting the data remote servers from the physical backup storage and the previous hardware. For example, workers cannot work in the original premise because there is fire or flood, and they can still access the files and data online and continue their daily work.
Progression of Cloud Services
It is also possible that cloud service providers might lose information, suffer from service attacks, or go bankrupt. All these possibilities should be linked to risk analysis, primarily if all the computer resources are hosted on the online service cloud provider.
To ensure that there is business progression and you can adequately plan for your cloud services, you have to:
Carry out a business impact analysis or vulnerability assessment to view about how critical the services are.
Pick a proper recovery strategy, like data backup or duplicate servers that lead the users to another website.
Test all the recovery strategies and tools regularly.
Review all the service level contracts.
Cloud Service Contract (SLA)
SLA is a binding contract between a cloud service provider and the client. There are also essential criteria in regards to the services, which includes:
Availability – The min uptime level
Performance – Max response time
Security and Data Privacy – All the data transmitted is adequately encrypted.
Access to All Data – On all the systems of the service providers.
System Infrastructure- Standards that the provider is supposed to maintain.
SLAs that are negotiated on an individual basis with the cloud service provider means the service provider's availability and what happens if the service is interrupted. However, for consumer services, like free applications where you take the service providers' terms and conditions rather than negotiating the agreement, they will exclude all of the provisions from the contract.
Contracts will also take into account certain legal conditions – eg. UK money laundering laws and regulations for businesses working in financial services.
To guard against completely losing data from a service provider, you should back up all data using the backup servers under your control, or make sure a backup storage provider, and you get extra expenses.
Cloud Applications for SMEs
Cloud computing apps useful to SMEs will include:
Tools for sales purposes.
Software relating to the office.
CRM software
Software for Human Resources
Payroll Software
Proper working tools
Other applications that are available on the software during a service basis – where the whole software is properly maintained and adequately upgraded by the service provider thus accessed through the client's web browser. View the cloud service structures.
Cloud CRM and E-Commerce
Online sales and CRM software will allow to target new business and handle the needs of the current customers more adequately. Sales teams will be able to use web-enabled devices like phones to access and update client data while moving correctly. For more info, see CRM.
Cloud HR
Most cloud HR systems can be used for the whole recruitment process – starting from tracking users to comparing salaries and testing performances. Thus, this will help you properly manage tasks, maintain tasks, and stay compliant with working legislation. All these systems are also easy to use, and they get rid of the need for maintenance and space for storage.
Cloud Collaboration and Virtual Offices
Office software and different working tools are available on the cloud service provider that let workers work anywhere on their web-enabled devices, including exchanging emails and sharing data when necessary. It supports flexible working methods and lets workers collaborate with colleagues and clients. Read more about online office apps.
Picking A Cloud Service
There are a lot of service providers that give cloud services to businesses.
When picking a service provider, you must know it is crucial to understand how easy to understand how to change the service level that you receive or get rid of the contract or service level contract and move on to the next service provider. To ensure that you are not 'locked in' on the service, you might want to consider your different contract agreements, and whether it will be good enough for you to change to a different service provider in the future.
If you compare to all different suppliers, you have to research and find which cloud service provider best suits your business requirements. Ask other companies for advice, carry out proper research online, and ensure that the provider you pick is reputable. Click here on how to select the best computer supplier for the business.
Tips for Sending the Whole Business to The Cloud Provider
When figuring about using cloud service providers, you must consider connecting it to non-critical software and business operations. It will let you see how cloud computing works. If it suits the business, it will benefit what it will bring.
Assess Cloud Service Providers
Before integrating cloud computing in the business, you might have to figure out the following problems:
Protection of Data – How can you protect the data, and what are the steps taken to put the service provider to make sure all your information is secure? How responsible will the service provider be for any data loss, and what are the legal duties taken for your data? If the data provider servers are outside the EEA zone, what are the rules and regulations that will apply? View on cloud computing and data protection rules and regulations.
Business Progression – In the event of a total downtime during a service failure, a breach in the security of a data loss, how does the business continue operation? What type of backup systems have you implemented in place? What is the service available that can guarantee the service provider gives the service needed? View here.
Services – What is the level, and what types of support does the provider give? What is the financial compensation will the provider offers you if the service breaks down?
Pricing Plans– How much do the services cost?
Service Flexibility – What are the best options for giving the service requirements an upgrade or downgrade?
Terms of Contracts – What are the right times to terminate the contract fast or change to another service provider?
Cloud Computing Broadband Speed
To work efficiently, on a cloud service provider, the business needs a fast internet connection. Cloud computing will work effectively when you upload it to other provider servers fast so you can download it from the internet. A leased line or a fast broadband internet line is better, and you should use ADSL connections as they support fast upload internet speeds.
You also have to check whether the business outsources the internet to other companies, which will decrease the upload speeds. The choice of ISP and the support services they give is a prime consideration as well. Fast internet is crucial for cloud services. View broadband connections for the business.