Cloud computing and businesses

Cloud computing not only helps businesses to access their files from anywhere on the planet, but also helps to reduce the headache of having an expensive IT department and hardware.
Traditional email systems, such as Exchange, require lots of physical resources (i.e. beefed up servers), and are limited to cumbersome secure access (VPN).
Having the email server over the cloud (google, and others), can dramatically decrease the operating cost of any business.
Initially, these cost decreasing advantages were only harnessed by small businesses, but now more sizable companies are reeking the benefits of this technology. It not only brings great economy by reducing or outsourcing the company's IT department, but greatly reduces the cost of having a local server. My personal experience in moving my company's Exchange server to the cloud, saved us $75,000.00 on the first year, since our server was due to be completely upgraded.
Additionally, having the mail server on the cloud, eliminates the need of having a server administrator to maintain and troubleshoot the server every week, by backing it up, setting up new users, where the process of permission is quite labor intense, and other tasks. On the cloud, set up is painless, there's no need to set up the end user's computer, and the email account is accessible from anywhere on the planet where there's an internet connection available.
The link below, leads to a more in depth list of benefits that big businesses are seeing now in cloud computing.

http://www.theguardian.com/media-network/media-network-blog/2013/jul/25/cloud-computing-benefits-large-businesses

http://www.cloudtweaks.com/2011/11/infographic-small-business-the-cloud/

What is Cloud Computing?

     The phrase "it's in the cloud" is frequently used in today's society - but what does it really mean?  The concept of saving information in "the cloud" derives from the term cloud computing. According to Kenneth and Jane Laudon, the author's of Management Information Systems, Managing the Digital Firm, cloud computing "refers to a model of computing that provides access to a shared pool of computing resources (computers, storage, applications, and services), over a network, often the Internet" (170).  Any information saved in "the cloud" can be easily accessed in any location and on any device.

     
     We no longer need to worry about losing all of our files and information if our computer crashes; we can easily access our files and information by saving them in the cloud.  We no longer need to worry about saving an assignment for class or work on a USB device; we can save our assignments for class or work in the cloud and access it from any device.  For example, I was writing a paper for a history class I was taking, and I decided I wanted to work on my paper in a different location.  I simply saved my paper on the website www.dropbox.com and I was able to continue working on my paper on the library's computer.
    For those of you who are new to the concept of cloud computing, let's cover the basics...

• How does cloud computing work?
• Cloud computing uses software and technology to make all computers in the world act as one individual computer. Kenneth and Jane Laudon explain that "thousands or even hundreds of thousands of computers are located in cloud data centers, where they can be accessed by desktop computers, laptop computers, netbooks, entertainment centers, mobile devices, and other client machines linked to the internet, with both personal and corporate computing increasingly moving to mobile platforms"(170).
• Who can use cloud computing?
• Anyone that has access to the internet.
• Where did the term "cloud computing" originate?
• According to a CNBC article, "the concept of cloud computing dates back to the 1960's....the phrase originates from the cloud symbol used by flow charts and diagrams to symbolize the Internet... any computer connected to the web has access to a pool of computing power, applications and files."  
• To read more of the CNBC article, use the link: http://www.cnbc.com/id/43077233/page/2

Continue reading this blog for more information regarding cloud computing!

Sources:

• "Cloud Computing 101: Learning the Basics." CNBC.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Sept. 2013.
•  Laudon, Kenneth C., Jane Price Laudon, Ahmed Elragal, and Kenneth C. Laudon.Management      Information Systems: Managing the Digital Firm. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Print.
• "Network Diagram Examples." - Examples of Network Diagrams You Can Create Using SmartDraw. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Sept. 2013.

Examples of Cloud Computing

The capabilities of cloud computing allows user to back up information on storage servers through the internet. Here are some examples: online music, social networks, storage clouds.

Online Music
Online has been revolutionized by cloud computing for various reasons. Music can be accessed from any remote location and through any kind of media. Pandora and other online music websites also provide the user with accessibility to listen to music without having to have actual/physical record. 

Social Network
Social network serve communication and collaboration services, as well as a storage keeper.From a personal perspective, a user can access a social network via internets sites created by html. Social network allows the user to store many things on the cloud such as: photographs, videos, personal information, and the ability to communicate with friends through IM or video chat. 

Storage Clouds 
One main factor of cloud computing, is of course the ability to store data from a remote location at anytime. Therefore storage clouds allows the user to access the cloud, via internet, and store and retrieve information in a timely manner. Here are some examples: dropbox, skyDrive, googleDrive.