Talking Point: Flying through the cloud
Zach Douglas, joint managing director of serviced office provider Orega, looks at why businesses are taking to cloud computing.
Cloud computing may sound like a 'pie in the sky' concept but it's increasingly being adopted by businesses seeking the best communications systems available. A general term for anything that involves delivering hosted services over the internet, it is sometimes referred to as SAAS (software as a service).
Buying cloud computing is actually a bit like buying a vehicle. It comes in many different formats and can be used in many different ways, from transferring and storinglarge amounts of data to purchasing a fully managed, secure, hosted and supported solution. With the subscription-based or pay-per-use services available, you buy what you want when you need it.
Cloud computing minimises upfront investment in servers or software licensing, frees up the space required for data storage and lessens the need for on-site IT support.
And the cloud isn't just about computers. It offers the same diversity of products in relation to telephony, security systems and a growing list of other services. Improvements to the UK's data networks and the wider availability of bandwidth are driving the economic viability of cloud-based services.
Suitable for a sole trader with a single user or a corporate company with many sites, it is becoming increasingly difficult to resist a migration to cloud-based technologies, with all its commercial benefits.
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