With everything from the way, we bank, order food, or even how we work changing at a frenetic pace, futureproofing is no longer optional.
With its 'anywhere, anytime, any device' access, cloud computing enables entirely new levels of continuity, efficiency, and methods of working.
In this article, we’ll walk you through some of the basics of cloud computing and introduce you to the various cloud service models you could implement depending on your business requirements to help pave your way to increased efficiency and productivity throughout business processes.
What is cloud?
‘Cloud’ is a term used to describe a variety of different types of remote computing services. It’s a convenient way to store, access, manage, and share software and data that is stored on remote servers instead of on your local computer or device.
What are the different types of cloud service models?
There is no one size fits all approach when it comes to implementing the cloud. The three different types of cloud service models available to consumers looking to deploy cloud services are listed below:
- Public Cloud:
Public cloud services are provided by third-party providers, who manage and operate the cloud infrastructure and resources on behalf of their customers. The public cloud is a type of cloud computing that delivers services over the internet. While the public cloud model appeals to a lot of businesses as it offers several advantages, including pay-as-you-go pricing, scalability, and high availability, it also brings along its own set of drawbacks in the form of limited control over your data, increased risk of breaches and other privacy issues.
- Private Cloud:
A private cloud is a cloud computing infrastructure set up within a company's own data centre and is provisioned for exclusive use by a single organisation. It may be owned, managed, and operated by the organisation itself, or it may be a hosted service.
Private clouds are used to store and manage corporate data typically by large organisations that have sensitive data or regulatory requirements. Private clouds offer many benefits over public clouds, including greater performance, enhanced security, flexibility, and control. However, at the same time, private clouds can also be more expensive and difficult to set up and maintain.
- Hybrid Cloud:
The hybrid cloud blends private and public cloud infrastructure. By storing sensitive data on-premises, behind a firewall, organisations can ensure that only authorised users have access to it. And by using the public cloud for less sensitive data, they can take advantage of the increased scalability and flexibility. On the other hand, businesses should also be aware of the downside of opting the hybrid model which includes increased complexity and compatibility issues along with the need to hire staff with expertise in both on-premises and cloud-based systems which could end up making the hybrid model more expensive than other options.
The cloud model that you ultimately choose should be based on your specific business needs. Each cloud model has its own set of pros and cons, so it's important to carefully consider all your options before deciding.
Advantages of using the cloud?
Now that you have a basic understanding of the cloud, let’s look at some of the most popular benefits of using the cloud.
- The cloud has many benefits for businesses. Perhaps the most obvious benefit is that it allows you to access your data and applications from any device with an internet connection. This means that you can work from anywhere, which is a huge advantage for people who travel or work remotely.
- The cloud also helps businesses save money. With the pay-as-you-go pricing model of cloud computing, you only ever pay for the resources you use. There’s no need to invest in expensive hardware and software upfront or to pay for ongoing maintenance and support.
- Another benefit of using the cloud is that it is more secure than storing data on your own computer. With the cloud, your data is stored on multiple servers, which makes it much less likely to be lost or stolen. And if something does happen, your data is backed up so you can recover it quickly.
- Increased agility and flexibility: The cloud enables you to quickly scale up or down to meet changing business demands. You can also experiment and innovate more easily, as you can provision new resources in minutes or hours rather than days or weeks.
Cloud migration tips for your business?
Migrating your business to the cloud can seem intimidating at first but with the right plan and execution, it can prove to be an extremely beneficial move for your company.
Here are a few tips to help you get started on your migration journey:
- Define your goals and objectives:
Before you can reap the benefits, you need to figure out what you hope to achieve by migrating to the cloud? Are increased efficiency and productivity your goal? Or are you looking to save on the increasing costs of IT? Of course, every business is different, so your specific goals may vary. Whatever your objectives may be, make sure they are clear and measurable.
- Assess your infrastructure:
Cloud infrastructure refers to the physical and virtual resources that are used to build, run, and manage applications in the cloud. It includes the hardware, networking, storage, and other resources that are required to support cloud applications.
To assess your cloud infrastructure, it is recommended that you take inventory of your current assets and determine what needs to be migrated to the cloud. Then, consider how much will it cost to build and maintain your cloud infrastructure? Can your infrastructure scale up or down to meet changing demand? How secure and reliable is your infrastructure?
- Choose the right provider:
Just as teaming up with a subject matter expert can bring you numerous benefits in terms of cost, scalability, and performance, choosing to partner with the wrong provider can result in increased wasted resources and you may also not end up not getting access to the required features, and support and guidance you were looking for.
To ensure that you have the most efficient and effective system in place, it is essential you ensure you conduct thorough research and then finalise on the provider you want to work with.
Move to the cloud today with F1 Solutions
We are in the midst of rapid digital transformation cloud services are critical in such an environment. The cloud brings a lot of benefits to organisations seeking a competitive edge in this highly competitive market.
F1 Solutions offers world-class cloud services through market leaders Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure. Cloud migration can be complex, and because we recognise that each organisation is unique, we carefully customise and implement a strategy that will work best for you.
Talk to us about boosting your business performance and enabling adaptability with a powerful cloud solution.
