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By: Kanika Vishwakarma
- Cloud Computing
- December 21, 2023
- Comments 0
Jingle to the Cloud: Unlocking Christmas Benefits
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! As we enjoy the happiness of Christmas, it’s a great time to discover how cloud computing can be beneficial. Like the magic of Christmas, cloud computing can transform and better the way we work and connect with others.
In this blog, we’ll explore how cloud computing enhances the holiday spirit, offering efficiency, and flexibility. Join us in discovering what the cloud offers to make your Christmas season even brighter.
What is Cloud Computing?
Cloud computing involves providing computer services from the cloud, which is a system of servers. This network stores data, executes applications, and delivers content to connected devices.
Three categories compose cloud networks:
Public
Specialized providers such as Microsoft Azure manage public clouds services. These providers offer their services online, allowing anyone to purchase what they require.
Private
A single business exclusively reserves a private cloud service for its use. You can establish a private cloud on your premises, but this can be costly. Alternatively, you can enlist a specialized provider to host it for you.
Hybrid
The hybrid cloud combines elements of both public and private clouds, along with technology enabling data sharing between them.
What are the Types of Cloud Computing?
Cloud computing can encompass various concepts, but it generally falls into three types of cloud services. You might be familiar with or already using them:
SaaS, or Software as a Service, involves cloud-based applications delivered via the Internet. Users can access these applications through a web browser or by downloading an application on their computer or mobile. Typically, users subscribe to these services and can cancel at any time. An example of this is Microsoft 365.
PaaS, or Platform as a Service, is primarily used by developers for creating, testing, and deploying software applications. This service offers developers a dedicated tool, enabling them to concentrate on the development and deployment of software builds. Importantly, it lessens the need to construct infrastructure for testing the efficiency and success of apps before their official launch.
IaaS, or Infrastructure as a Service, is designed for businesses that need complete control over the cloud environment. With IaaS, they can manage their virtual servers, data storage, and networks according to their preferences.
What are the Benefits of Cloud Computing?
The adoption of cloud computing in business is increasing. Foundry’s 2020 cloud computing research indicates that 92% of companies utilize cloud-connected or cloud-run services. Furthermore, Flexera predicts that by 2022, two-thirds of SMB workloads will be in the cloud. Given the widespread shift to online work during the pandemic, this trend is expected to persist.
Cloud computing offers four primary benefits, namely:
- Cost Savings
- Enhanced safety and reliability
- Greater flexibility
- Easier collaboration
It helps you save money
The biggest advantage of cloud computing is that it significantly reduces your costs. Setting up an on-premises network is expensive. It involves not just server costs but also expenses for dedicated room, electricity, and personnel.
In contrast, a cloud server is 79% cheaper to operate.
The cloud provider manages utilities, maintenance, and other overhead expenses. You pay only for what you use, such as cloud storage, and not the full cost of the entire server.
It provides heightened security and reliability
Cloud providers prioritize security because of the impact on their services’ quality, shaping their commitment to robust security measures. They regularly update systems, ensuring users always have the latest version effortlessly. Continuous threat monitoring, backups, and redundancy systems for power outages are part of their proactive approach.
According to Johnnie Konstantas, Oracle’s senior director of security product management, public cloud providers have built their entire business on the cloud platform. Consequently, protecting both the infrastructure and cloud services is their top priority. Substantial investments in security research, innovation, and protection, totaling billions collectively, back it.
Achieve flexibility
The subscription model allows you to easily customize cloud computing services according to your requirements. If you’re a beginner, several SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS providers offer free plans to keep costs low. As your business expands, you can quickly switch to a paid subscription.
During a sale or temporary demand increase, you can easily upgrade your plan for more bandwidth without buying a new server. After the sale, just downgrade your plan. This flexibility allows you to adapt to changing needs without the commitment of purchasing additional hardware.
Work from any location
80% said that using cloud computing improved their productivity according to studies.
Cloud-delivered SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS products enable your team to collaborate without being in the same place. Members can access files from anywhere using any device. Work is automatically saved, ensuring everyone has the latest version.
The Gift of Cloud Innovation: Microsoft Azure
Microsoft Azure cloud computing is simply a gift that keeps on giving. Microsoft Azure is a cloud platform that provides various business solutions, including computing, storage, analytics, and networking. It allows businesses to develop, manage, and launch applications on a global network of data centers managed by Microsoft.
What makes it stand out from other cloud platforms are the following:
- Integration with Microsoft Products: Azure meshes seamlessly with Microsoft’s existing suite of products and services. This includes Windows Server, Active Directory, Office 365, etc. For businesses heavily invested in Microsoft technologies, Azure offers a more cohesive and integrated environment.
- Hybrid Cloud Capabilities: Azure often receives praise for actively supporting hybrid cloud scenarios. It allows businesses to integrate on-premises data centers with cloud services. This is beneficial for those with specific compliance or data residency requirements.
- Business Focus: Azure has a strong presence in the enterprise market. It offers a broad range of services and compliance certifications. This makes it an attractive choice for industries with stringent regulatory requirements, such as finance and healthcare.
- Global Network of Data Centers: Azure has an extensive global network of data centers. It helps businesses deploy applications and services close to their users. This global presence helps reduce latency and improve the performance of applications worldwide.
- Integrated DevOps Tools: Azure provides a suite of tools that support DevOps practices, including Azure DevOps for continuous integration, continuous delivery, and automated deployment. This integrated toolset streamlines the development and deployment processes.
- AI and Machine Learning Services: Azure offers a comprehensive set of AI and machine learning services. With this, they can build intelligent applications and harness the power of data-driven insights.
- Business Agreements: Microsoft’s existing enterprise relationships often lead to favorable licensing agreements for businesses adopting Azure. This can be a significant factor for large enterprises already using Microsoft solutions.
- Windows Virtual Desktop (WVD): Azure provides WVD, a service that allows businesses to deploy and scale Windows desktops in the cloud. This can be beneficial for scenarios like remote work and virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI).
Celebrate Christmas with Azure’s Digital Splendor
94 percent of businesses have used cloud services in various ways. This number proves that cloud computing is here to stay and grow.
Microsoft Azure Cloud emerged as a prominent force in the cloud computing sector. It empowers businesses with streamlined digital transformation, automation, data intelligence capabilities, and robust security and compliance. However beneficial it may be, lacking proper managed expertise can result in inefficient resource use, limited performance, and high costs.
ECF Data positions itself as a reliable, application-centric, premium cloud-managed services provider, employing a factory-based approach. As an Azure Expert MSP team, ECF Data takes full responsibility for your Azure cloud experience.
