Using the Power of Cloud Computing in your Day to Day Business

Guest Post By Christian Arno is the founder of Lingo24  

Cloud computing is a buzzword we've all been hearing a lot of lately. If you haven't yet explored whether cloud computing could benefit your business, it's an idea that's well worth considering. Here we take a look at what cloud computing is, who the major providers are, and some of the pros (and possible cons) for your business.

Cloud Computing Defined

As you might be aware, cloud computing is a central service that offers powerful computing and storage facilities to customers. Delivered via the internet, it uses remote servers instead of your local hardware. Chances are you've already used the power of the cloud in gaming on-demand or a streamed movie service.

Some of the characteristics of this model, as outlined in The NIST Definition of Cloud Computing from the U.S. Department of Commerce, are an 'on-demand self-service' that lets customers access it when needed; 'broad network access' from a variety of internet-enabled devices; and 'resource pooling' where the remote resource pool is divided among customers according to demand.

The Benefits

What does this mean for you? One chief advantage is that cloud computing can centralize your core software. No need to pay for a large number of software programs - if your software is on the cloud you can pay once and can then share it with whoever needs it.

Another plus is that cloud computing frees you from the need for each employee to be wired into a single server from an office desk. Instead, documents can be created and worked on by staff from home servers and shared via the cloud. Files can be worked on simultaneously, or sent between colleagues almost instantly, creating an efficient and productive workforce.

By embracing telecommuting made possible by cloud commuting, your business could see morale soar. Many businesses already offer this option to improve staff retention or aid recruitment of the best candidates. The EDGE Report from Robert Half International/CareerBuilder.com found that telecommuting was a strong draw for employees with 37% admitting it would cause them to choose one job over another.

Cloud computing also offers a way to keep staff numbers lower and the recruitment budget healthy, since it reduces the need for a large IT team to support users and hardware.

Most of us want to do our bit for the planet with cleaner, greener working practices. If you want to boast that you have a green company, cloud computing is a great way to cut your use of physical resources. Your employees will also leave a smaller carbon footprint by avoiding the commute to the office.

Are There Any Drawbacks?

OK, this gets the thumbs up so far, but every technology has its flip side. One snag you could run into with cloud computing is slow server response at times of peak capacity. This could leave your users kicking their heels until demand falls and they can gain access to their data.

Security could also be a concern, especially if your business data is highly confidential. Cloud computing services do take security needs seriously and they have safeguards in place. However, there is always a chance, no matter how remote, that your private data could be accessed if security is breached. Weigh this risk up against the security benefits offered by centralized data. Your data is much less likely to be lost by employees leaving it in public places on portable storage, and access to it will be tightly controlled.

Cloud Computing Services

When it comes to deciding on a cloud computing service provider, there's plenty of choice. One of the best known is Amazon Web Services which includes the Elastic Compute Cloud for scalable computing, plus data storage and database solutions. It also offers networking via a virtual private cloud or IP routing that connects users to your cloud-based infrastructure. When it comes to funding this, the 'pay for what you use' model is appealing for the budget-conscious business.

Amazon isn't the only gig in town, though. Google Apps for Business is another example of this web giant's innovation. This bundle of web-based business tools includes Google Drive for file storage and Google Sites for shared workspaces, alongside the familiar Gmail, Calendar and Docs. Meanwhile, Google Cloud Connect extends the Google Docs functionality to allow collaborative editing of Microsoft Office files. While its lack of cross-platform editing is not ideal, it comes with zero cost attached.

Other cloud-based services to look out for include the suite of products from Salesforce, plus big names such as Dell and Microsoft.

Although cloud computing is still evolving, one thing's clear – it's here to stay. Explore its potential and you could discover a whole new way of doing business.

About The Author: Christian Arno is the founder of Lingo24, a leading translation company in US. Launched in 2001, Lingo24 now has over 170 employees spanning three continents and clients in over sixty countries. In the past twelve months, they have translated over forty million words for businesses in every industry sector, including the likes of MTV, World Bank and American Express. Follow Lingo24 on Twitter: @Lingo24.