The cloud has become an indispensable component of modern society, particularly in the business environment, where statistics reveal that reliance on cloud computing has increased significantly in recent years.
With over 90% of companies worldwide currently leveraging cloud solutions for a wide range of critical operations such as data storage and management, communication and collaboration, customer relationship management (CRM), or business intelligence, it’s pretty clear that we’re dealing with a disruptive technology that fosters change at all business levels.
In fact, cloud computing has brought about such profound transformations for companies across all fields that it can be regarded as a turning point in business history, dividing in into two distinct eras: BC (Before Cloud) and AC (After Cloud).
For startups, cloud computing is a smart choice because it’s an affordable option that can provide multiple advantages, such as providing access to cutting-edge technology, streamlining workloads, reducing operational costs, improving collaboration, and adjusting resources based on changing needs, all of which can help a company achieve its developmental goals.
So, if you’re an entrepreneur, integrating cloud services into your company’s infrastructure is definitely something you should consider if you haven’t already done it. But before you take the leap, you need to know what you’re dealing with.
This doesn’t mean you have to become a cloud expert to use the technology, but you do need to have a fairly good understanding of how it works and what it implies. Educating yourself on the topic will make you aware of both the benefits and potential pitfalls of cloud computing, so you can make informed choices when selecting these types of services and ensure they bring value to your company.
How Can Cloud Technology for Entrepreneurs Drive Startup Success?
The Fundamentals
While there’s no need to go too deep into technicalities, at a minimum, you need to familiarize yourself with the core concepts that form the foundation of cloud computing so you can understand how it functions and what it can do for your company.
In the simplest terms, cloud computing can be described as a complex virtual system that enables on-demand access to a large variety of IT resources, tools, and services delivered over the internet.
Whether you want to store your company’s data, use servers, process large databases, access different software and applications, or leverage tools and systems like Microsoft Azure to build and deploy apps, without having to purchase, own, and maintain any of these resources yourself, the cloud can help you with all that and more.
So, the cloud can be and do a lot of things for a company, depending on its specific needs. This reduces or even eliminates the need for on-premises hardware and the number of IT specialists a company has to hire, decreasing the overall IT burden. Basically, certain responsibilities that would otherwise be handled by in-house staff are transferred to the cloud service provider
A buffet is quite a fitting analogy for cloud computing, as it provides you with a diverse assortment of products and services, allowing you to serve yourself with the ones you’re interested in.
The on-demand nature of cloud computing gives users the freedom and flexibility to choose the resources that suit their needs and enhance or decrease capabilities as these needs evolve.
Moreover, the pay-as-you-go pricing model means that users are only charged for what they actually consume and don’t have to pay a fixed rate, which can lead to significant savings in the long run.
The Types
You also need to know which type of cloud is right for you since there are various cloud service models available, as follows:
- Software as a Service (SaaS): This is the most widely used cloud model and, as the name implies, it refers to the distribution of software applications to users via the internet. This means that you only manage the application and the data, but all the rest, including servers, storage and networking, are handled by the cloud service provider. Google Apps, Dropbox, Microsoft Office 365 are all examples of SaaS that most people are familiar with.
- Platform as a Service (PaaS): In a PaaS, the cloud provider offers access to hardware, software, and other tools that allow users to build different applications, so this is a model dedicated to developers.
- Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS): With an IaaS model, the provider hosts the infrastructure, which includes hardware, servers, storage, and networking, while users get to manage the operating system, applications, and data.
The Deployment Models
The way cloud services are being delivered is another feature you should take into account when analysing your options. These include:
- Public Cloud: Services are offered over the internet by a third-party provider to the general public or a large industry group.
- Private Cloud: The services and resources offered by the vendor are dedicated to a single organization, either on-premises or hosted by a third party, providing greater control and security.
- Hybrid Cloud: It combines public and private clouds, allowing organizations to leverage the benefits of both, such as cost savings in the public cloud and security in the private cloud.
- Multi-Cloud: it implies utilizing multiple public cloud providers to avoid vendor lock-in and optimise for specific needs.
The Migration Process
Migrating to the cloud can be quite a challenging process, especially if you’re not confident in your tech skills and don’t have a team of experienced IT specialists to help with the transition. For this reason, many startups choose to hire the services of a cloud management company like Intercept to ensure everything runs smoothly.
The migration process typically starts with the assessment of your current infrastructure and needs so you can identify applications and data suitable for migration. Then comes the planning stage when the migration strategy is developed, outlining the approach, timeline, resources, and budget for the transition.
After these steps are completed, the actual migration can take place, where you transfer data, apps and services to the cloud. Following the migration, you’ll have to shift your focus to managing and optimising your cloud environment.
The cloud can bring numerous advantages to organisations of all types and sizes, including startups. However, if you want to make the most of this cutting-edge technology, you need to equip yourself with essential knowledge and prepare thoroughly.
