Cloud Computing is better business

The idea of cloud computing is easy to understand.

Traditionally, businesses needed to invest in hardware to run software.  Sufficient hardware was necessary to support busy periods.  You might even buy some extra capacity, anticipating growth.  That investment was all up front and lost value quickly.

Cloud computing allows businesses to consume computing resources as needed.

The new model has other advantages, especially for medium and small businesses.

Use (and pay for) only what you need

Off hours, the computing hardware in most businesses is idle.  Cloud service providers run vast data centers supporting 1000s of customers, across many time zones.  Peak demand comes at different times.  Providers achieve tremendous efficiencies by distributing the processing load.  That efficiency is passed on to customers in relatively low rates.

The benefit for business is compounded.  No capital investment, low hourly rates and costs tied to actual use.

Scale

Purchasing new equipment to support growth is expensive and often disruptive.  Cloud services allow you to expand capacity without disrupting existing systems.  Importantly, if expected growth is not realized you can easily dial back cloud service usage.  There is no commitment to capital investment.

Information Security

Businesses have been concerned about the security of data stored remotely.  Initially, that concern had merit, but cloud providers have met the challenge.  Today, most cloud services are compartmentalized, separated from each other by network firewalls and other security provisions.  If one component is compromised, the remaining components remain secure.  This is unlike the many information security breaches reported in the news, where once the network is breached the entire organization is vulnerable.  While information security is a continuing challenge, cloud computing is not inherently less secure than on premises servers.

Complexity and Expertise

Businesses need a simpler way to acquire technology.  The rate of technical change is increasing and systems are growing more complex.  Cloud services, hosted and supported by providers insulate business for that complexity.  Providers can sell capability rather than technology.  Business can buy capability without the burden of capital investment or expensive IT staff.

Making it work

Seeing the opportunities, choosing the right vendor and integrating legacy systems requires uncommon expertise.  Complete System Design, Inc. exists to help business realize the benefits of cloud computing.