Kelowna - Cloud Computing

The cloud – it’s all the hype right now, but what does it mean? Simply stated, it is a general term for anything that involves delivering hosted services over the Internet. The name was inspired by the cloud symbol that’s often used to represent the Internet in flowcharts and diagrams. Chances are, you are already using an application in the cloud or storing files there. Are you using gmail or facebook? Have you ever uploaded anything to the internet? Do you have a website?

Years ago, when you had a website, you would have it sitting on a server in your office. But as more people stopped by to visit your website, you needed new, bigger and better servers to handle all of this traffic. This became costly and took more time and resources to maintain it all. New businesses were formed that bought lots of servers and did all of the work to service them and sold you space to put your website on their servers. In other terminology, they “host” your website. Where is the content from your website physically sitting? It could be in a datacenter anywhere. It is in the cloud.

Examples of application software include gmail, google docs or facebook. You can access any of these applications from anywhere and access the files (pictures, documents, etc) that you’ve uploaded from anywhere as well. You don’t actually own the application or the hardware that it resides on.

How will businesses use cloud computing? Why will businesses move to cloud computing?

Businesses today are facing many challenges – rising costs, declining sales, tough competition. They need to find ways to increase the efficiency of their business operations and do more on their existing infrastructure.

• Reduced Costs and Resources– Only pay for the resources you use, as you use them with a monthly subscription fee. You don’t own the application software or the hardware or the costs associated with ownership. By placing storage and server needs in the hands of a 3rd party, you shift the burden of in house IT onto the out sourcer.

• Scalability – You can grow or shrink to match your demand, referred to as elastic. If you need more computing power, it is available instantly. There is no need to secure additional hardware or software that you may or may not need to use.

• Highly Automated – IT personnel are not needed to keep software up to date.

• Easy Implementation – Without the need to purchase hardware or software licenses, a company can get it’s cloud computing services off the ground quickly – and for a fraction of the cost.

• Mobility – You don’t have to be confined to working from one physical location Work from any PC, anywhere and relocation is easy. And if your business relocates, there is no hardware to move.

Talk with our office for more information about how cloud services can help your business.

Janet F, Marketing Coordinator

Northern Computer - Your Trusted Partner
#1 - 495 Banks Road Kelowna, BC V1X 6A2
Phone: 250.762.7753 Fax: 250.861.1861 Toll-Free: 1.877.257.2896
Email: sales@northerncomputer.ca or service@northerncomputer.ca
Web: http://www.northerncomputer.ca/