| Even though the latest corporate rush for cloud | | | | world that is leveraging the technology to the |
| computing solutions may make us believe that it | | | | fullest. |
| is a new phenomena, cloud computing was born | | | | Right from Software as a Service (SaaS), |
| the day email clients were opened to internet | | | | Platform as a Service (PaaS), Infrastructure as a |
| users. | | | | Service (IaaS) to private clouding, public clouding |
| As per a survey by SpamTitan, almost 69% of | | | | or hybrid clouding, enterprises all over the world |
| online users use cloud solutions. Be it for email | | | | have realized the true potential of clouds. |
| storage, picture uploading or file sharing through | | | | Some of the benefits are: |
| sites like RapidShare, cloud computing is a rapidly | | | | - Reduced cost: As the entire platform gets |
| evolving computing intelligence with the power of | | | | centralized to (mostly) a third party provider, |
| enhancing endpoint computing, optimizing device | | | | there is no need of investing in expensive |
| capabilities and lowering technological expenditure | | | | infrastructure such as servers or storage assets. |
| made on storage and hosting devices. | | | | The payment is based on a pay per service |
| With its genesis traceable to consumer centric | | | | model. |
| solutions, cloud computing has evolved to become | | | | - Increased storage: As the entire process runs in |
| a game changing technological solution for any | | | | clouds, one can integrate available storage assets |
| business. It facilitates virtualization at a 'nickel and | | | | with the storage in the cloud to enhance data |
| dime' cost. Post recession, the buzz has spread | | | | governance and management. |
| like fire and everyday a new application is being | | | | - Highly automated: The focus shifts from |
| invented or, if we may say, 'discovered.' | | | | managing in-house IT support to automating the |
| As per the National Institute of Standards and | | | | process, without worrying about infrastructural |
| Technology (NIST) and the Cloud Security | | | | costs. |
| Alliance, cloud, in essence, is a computing model | | | | - Mobility: Employees get to access business |
| that facilitates network access to a shared pool | | | | intelligence from anywhere, anytime across all |
| of configurable computing resources, such as | | | | heterogeneous computing devices. |
| servers, storage devices or applications. In other | | | | - Instigates innovation: As IT is freed from regular |
| terms, it can be considered as a solution in which | | | | maintenance, the focus shifts to the maintenance |
| the entire computation occurs through the | | | | of other mission critical resources. |
| internet. The highlight is that the user need not | | | | - Access to the latest technology: Whereas a few |
| have the resources in-house, rather use a third | | | | years ago, hosting a heavy application would have |
| party platform on consumption basis payouts. | | | | been a distant dream for a small business |
| Evolution of Cloud Computing Technologies | | | | enterprise, cloud computing gives access to high |
| From just email clients to fully operational CRMs | | | | end technology interface with minimum |
| and Google Apps, cloud computing has evolved | | | | investment. |
| from being an end user centric technology to | | | | - Unparalleled collaboration: Rather than investing in |
| being a complete business technology assistant. | | | | convergence technologies, business can virtualize |
| Software as a Service (SaaS) has become the | | | | every step of their mission critical process, |
| most sought after service model due to its cost | | | | enabling greater collaboration and team work. This |
| advantages. IT companies are developing turnkey | | | | enables information sharing, editing, revision and |
| projects with server supports to enable their | | | | the last stages of approval as well. As more |
| buyers to buy just the licenses and use the | | | | possibilities are being explored, new applications of |
| software through a browser based interface. | | | | cloud computing are getting discovered. |
| Benefits of Cloud Computing | | | | Therefore, besides being present in the clouds, |
| While for common users, the benefits of cloud | | | | staying updated about the latest innovation has |
| computing have not evolved much and are limited | | | | become pivotal for the success of a business. |
| to sharing files and storing data, it's the corporate | | | | |