Contrast Logic

The Cloud

Just about anything these days that aims to demystify the misunderstandings of ambiguous internet terminology almost always starts with a wikipedia definition. So, who am I to go against the grain?

Cloud computing is the delivery of computing as a service rather than a product, whereby shared resources, software, and information are provided to computers and other devices as a utility (like the electricity grid) over a network (typically the Internet).

- Wikipedia

So, what does it actually mean, and why You should care?

We are all familiar that the evolutionary rate of electronics and computers is about 6 months (give or take). Meaning just about every six months, that brand new computer you bought is loosing value and could possibly be obsolete. The life of the internet is even faster, new technology emerges on a daily basis. What this means is that your business needs to stay with the time. We are in the digital revolution and life is only going to become more connected.

With cloud computing, the days of hardware upgrades, software installation, and software updates are gone. The software to run your business could be built in a matter of weeks and you only need to open a web browser to access it. Best of all, its available on your work computer, home computer, your iPhone or Droid, and even on your iPad. No installation needed, no configuration, no testing, etc. It’s always available, where ever you are.

With all the connectivity and availability, one might be motivated to ask, “Is the Cloud secure?”

This would be a very relevant question to ask, because after all… your business information is stored in a database on multiple servers somewhere. Is it possible that that information could be accessed without your knowledge? Absolutely. I’m sorry to say it, but there is no such thing as absolute security. If its on a network, it could theoretically be hacked. Even government servers have been hacked. However, this is not to say your information is not secure. Because it very well is. For everyday internet operations, your business information is probably about 99% secure. Most of the ‘major’ hacker associations likely do not care about the information you have.

To conclude this article, cloud computing brings your business to new levels of connectivity, allowing for greater potential and lower overhead costs. Is it risky, well, yea. Everything on the internet is risky. But I wouldn’t let that dissuade you from pushing forward. As long as the best practices are followed, such as not giving out your username and password, you’ll be safe.