Cloud services are transforming the way organizations and public sector institutions use computer technology. Nowadays, cloud services are easily accessible to satisfy any IT demand. Even though there is great variety among cloud services, almost all of them have some common features and key benefits in common. All these are at your fingertips and you can access them with no restrictions, even if you are not tech savvy.
Some of the main cloud services are described below.
They are sold by different IT service providers to end users. The advantage of buying these servers is that they offer all the functions that conventional computers do plus more. Some of the popular cloud services that you can buy are:
E-commerce stores: E-commerce websites are fast replacing retail stores because of their quick and simple interaction. Online stores can add and remove products from the inventory as well as process orders instantly. To make it happen, e-commerce websites need to have online servers that function efficiently to process orders, manage stock, pay taxes, and check balances. Businesses that have an online presence also need to store files for customer information and payment. Therefore, for cost savings and functionality reasons, companies should invest in cloud computing servers.
Software as a service (SaaS): Software as a service (SaaS) is one of the latest ways of using the internet to run applications. Rather than purchasing software and then installing it on your own machines, you can get software and install it remotely. You only need to pay for the amount of space used on your machines. For small and medium-sized businesses, this is the best way to provide a more affordable computing experience to employees while also having full control over the servers and applications. This is why many companies are moving toward using cloud computing services.
Platform-as-a-service:
Platform as a service (PaaS) also delivers a similar convenience while allowing companies to quickly and efficiently scale up and down. You can use it on any type of computer that has an internet connection. However, PaaS differs from clouds in that you won’t be managing and monitoring servers yourself. Instead, you’ll pay a monthly subscription fee to use it. The cloud computing services provide deployment models, application development, security, and database management. PaaS usually includes some form of internet infrastructure such as load balancing and application deployment.
Self-service provisioning: Self-service provisioning allows service users to install and run the applications themselves. This reduces costs for providers, while giving the end users more control. In short, self-service provisioning allows a user to install and run an application in an isolated environment, rather than in the company’s data center. However, self-service provisioning is not the same as it’s application version. It still uses a virtual-hosting server environment, even though the applications and settings are completely removed from the physical system. If an application becomes damaged or corrupted, self-service provisioning providers will still need to maintain the virtual server.
Hybrid cloud providers: A hybrid cloud provider offers two different ways to manage workloads. Some hybrid cloud providers will offer the convenience of on-premises applications, with the use of virtualization. Others will offer self-service access to applications via remote web connections or APIs. With this type of service, you’ll have a choice between on-premises and cloud, with some hybrid providers offering both solutions.
These are just some examples of how hybrid cloud solutions differ from traditional on-premises software applications. There are many more similarities, too many to list here.
- Most cloud platforms serve the same purpose, which is to make IT management easier and allow IT staff to more easily collaborate and monitor their environments.
- Choosing the right cloud platform for your business can be difficult, so it’s important to discuss your needs with an experienced consultant and analyze your options.
- By doing so, you’ll be able to choose the best option that works for you.