Cloud services are an essential aspect of business IT management. Read on to discover what this means for your company, and what you need to do to catch up if you have not already jumped into the cloud. If you need assistance with cloud services in the Greater Toronto Area, contact Tribus Computer today – we can help save you both time and money.
Cloud Services: What Are They?
If you don’t know what we mean by cloud services, you can catch up – just keep reading! Be sure as well to read our previous article on Managed IT Service Toronto: The Benefits of Going Local for more on what your business needs and how Tribus Computer can help.
What is the Cloud?
According to PC Mag, “In the simplest terms, cloud computing means storing and accessing data and programs over the Internet instead of your computer’s hard drive.”
When you store data on or run programs from your physical hard drive, that is called local storage and computing. Everything you need is physically close to you, and you can access your data – for that one computer, or others – on the local network. For it to be considered a cloud service, you need to be able to access your data or your programs over the Internet, anywhere, and at any time.
A cloud service allows you to access your data or your programs over the Internet, anywhere, any time.
Examples of Cloud Services
Here are some common examples of cloud services you may already be using. Some other major examples of cloud computing include:
Google Drive: This service allows you to access various office software capabilities on the go using Google Docs, Google Sheets, and Google Slides. Drive is on more than just desktop computers; you can use it on tablets or smartphones, and there are separate apps for Docs and Sheets as well. Additionally, most of Google’s services could be considered cloud computing: Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Maps, and so on.
Apple iCloud: Apple’s cloud service is primarily used for online storage, backup, and synchronization of your mail, contacts, and calendar. All the data you need is available to you on your iOS, Mac OS, or Windows device (Windows users have to install the iCloud control panel). Similar to Google, Apple offers cloud-based versions of its word processor (Pages), spreadsheet (Numbers), and presentations (Keynote) for use by any iCloud subscriber. iCloud is also the place iPhone users go to utilize the Find My iPhone feature.
Amazon Cloud Drive: Storage with this big retailer is mainly for music that you purchase from Amazon and images (if you have Amazon Prime, you get unlimited image storage). Amazon Cloud Drive also holds anything you buy for the Kindle. It’s basically storage for anything digital you’d buy from Amazon.
There are several cloud service options that allow you to access your data anywhere, any time.
Why Your Business Needs Cloud Services
There are several reasons why your company should be incorporating cloud services into day-to-day operations. Here are a few of the biggest via Information Age:
Increased flexibility: If your bandwidth requirements tend to fluctuate, using the cloud makes perfect sense because you can upgrade in line with your needs. That way, you don’t pay for more storage than you actually need.
Recovery of data: With cloud-based computing, recovery of data is far easier and you can enjoy greater peace of mind. When it comes to backing up information, your small business may not have the necessary tools and resources, so cloud computing could be the perfect solution.
No maintenance: When you use a cloud computing service you don’t have to worry about maintaining the system yourself. All of this is done for you, and the cloud computing service will deal with all security and software updates as well.
Easy access: Using the cloud gives you far easier access to your files. This benefits you and your employees, as you can access your work no matter where you are. You can share information with colleagues and employees far more easily using the cloud. For example, you don’t have to send emails back and forth to share a document as you can all access it on the cloud. You can also easily work remotely if necessary.
Higher level of security: Cloud computing gives you a higher level of security. For instance, if you lose your mobile device or laptop you can still access everything you have on the cloud using another machine or device. You can also download apps from cloud service providers to enable you to access your data on your mobile device.
Your employees will enjoy the benefits of accessing a secure cloud service.
Cloud Service: What You Should Be Aware Of
Cloud services are incredibly convenient, but there are a few things you should be aware of before signing up.
- Cost: Putting your faith in the cloud means you’re also putting all your faith in continued, unfettered access through various media companies. You might get a greater level of access, but it will cost you based on the amount of bandwidth that you use each month.
- Potential outages or crashes: You don’t want to rely fully on cloud services, as potential outages and even crashes will limit your access to your files. It’s a great backup option, but not a sole storage option.
- Ownership: There’s a lingering question as to who owns the data you store online – you or the company storing it? Think about how many times there’s been widespread controversy over the changing terms of service for companies like Facebook and Instagram – which are definitely cloud services – regarding what they get to do with your photos. Data ownership is a relevant factor to consider.
Remember, there’s no central body governing the use of the cloud for storage and services, and the rules continue to change from month to month.
You must be aware of costs, potential outages, and ownership issues in regards to cloud services.
Trust Tribus For Assistance With Cloud Services
Cloud backup solutions enable businesses to store their data and computer files online using a cloud backup provider, rather than storing the data locally on a physical disk such as a hard drive. When it comes to managing data, companies will often send data abroad, but when you are working with secure client data, you want to ensure it is locally managed. At Tribus, we can also take care of all your cloud backup needs – no matter how big or how small they may be.
Working with a company that focuses on managed IT service in the Greater Toronto Are brings several benefits. Tribus Computer uses only local technicians, servers, and networks, and if there is ever a problem that needs troubleshooting, we can not only gain remote access and fix the problem that way, but we can also visit your office and troubleshoot there.
If you find yourself focusing too much on your business’ IT needs or trying to find data backup solutions, it’s time to talk to the professionals at Tribus Computers – contact us today.
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