Most individuals who surf the Internet are already familiar with cloud computing, although they may not know it. If you’ve ever used a Web-based email, stored and shared photos online, or looked something up on Wikipedia, you’ve entered “the cloud.”
The cloud is an evolving paradigm, but it can be understood as a loosely configured network of servers that together combine to perform complex computing processes. Previously, this level of supercomputing was only available to the military industrial complex. Now, companies and individuals are taking advantage of these servers’ “down time” and using their resources for business and personal applications.
Enterprise cloud computing harnesses the power of the cloud for business applications. More and more businesses are using cloud computing for their accounting practices, customer relationship management (CRM), employee management and payroll, advertising campaigns, business presentations and so much more. With cloud computing, your information is hosted remotely, instead of taking up space on your hard drive or mainframe, and necessitating a complex matrix of servers, bandwidth, networks, hardware, software and storage space. Additionally, moving your CRM or sales force automation applications into the cloud can free up your information technology professionals’ time and resources, so that they can waste less time installing and troubleshooting programs, and more time developing advanced computing architectures.
Cloud computing applications offer a number of advantages to the modern business: streamlined functionality across all departments, the facilitation of interdepartmental communication, and real-time visibility of metrics. Additionally, since all CRM apps that are available in the cloud are fully customizable, they can be tailored to a company’s specifications, thereby further improving productivity and performance. One of the most attractive benefits to cloud-based applications is their mobility. Without the need for servers, hardware and software installation, employees can access data from any location that boasts a Web browser and an Internet connection – whether that location is the office, the home, or on the road. Web-based business applications are can be thoroughly and easily integrated with existing programs, such as Microsoft Outlook or Excel or Lotus Notes, and mobile devices like BlackBerrys, iPhones or other smartphones.
With the advent and popularity of cloud computing, many enterprise professionals are considering moving their operations into the cloud – but may be uncertain about its security level. After all, convenience and unlimited storage aren’t worth much if they come at the price of safety. You may be wondering who’s controlling all that information, up there in the cloud? And who’s in charge of making sure that no one is able to hack into your accounts and access it without authorization?
Yet cloud computing can actually be safer than “regular” mainframe or server-based computing. Since there is a plethora of servers, there is no one single location where the information is stored. This actually increases its security. The same safeguards and roadblocks apply to your enterprise business applications as to any Web site you visit for personal reasons: layers of security packets, passwords and authentication are all required before you can access information that may be sensitive or enterprise-specific.
The third-party vendors who will provide your cloud computing business applications take every precaution necessary to ensure your safety. As more and more organizations make the move into the cloud, it’s certain that safety and security measures only increase. Since every application you use can be custom-built to your company’s specifications, moreover, it becomes easier to encrypt and safeguard those portals. If you’re not entrusting your business’s data to the cloud, you could very well be missing out on the next wave of information hosting, storage and sharing.
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