Cloud computing is the next big thing in the computer industry that is going to change the way you do things, if it hasn’t already. The cloud is a virtual place where magical things happen – its where you can share your pictures, its where you can run Microsoft Office even if you don’t have it installed on your computer, and its where you can have things stored that you want to backup.
For example, my company offers backup services to our customers. That is an example of cloud computing. We install a small software application on your computer. That application uploads the data, or backs up the data, to a server located at an undisclosed location. Your data is stored on a secure server. The servers are connected to backup generators if the power fails.
The “cloud” in this scenario is the server computer where your data is stored. You don’t have the need, desire, or the means to create your own server environment. You certainly don’t want to have backup generators and armed-guards at the location to safeguard your data. You would have tens of thousands of dollars into the project, just to store your data. Enter the cloud. The cloud takes care of everything for you and thousands of other people, and charges you a small monthly fee. It makes it possible for you to have a safe backup location, free from fire, lightning, flood or hard drive crashes – for much less then if you tried to do it yourself.
Have you seen the new Microsoft Windows Live commercials where they always say “too the cloud?” That is also a good example, posting a document using Windows Live and then other people can view it or edit it. The document is stored on the cloud, a virtual server computer.
The cloud has a ways to go however. If any of you have used the Microsoft Office tools at live.com, you may have experienced what it is like to use a application over the Internet. It lags, freezes, and is generally slow. It depends on your connection speed, but many of us out in the boonies are still coming onto the high speed internet grid – some are still on dialup! These connection issues need to be fixed before cloud computing truly goes mainstream for everyone.
When you install a application onto your computer, the maker of that software application is granting you access to that program for commercial or personal use, depending on the license agreement. With cloud computing, you won’t have to install any programs on your computer – you will just go to a place on the internet, login (if you paid your subscription due) and use the application. The cloud takes care of running the application, all security and maintenance issues. You just have to use the application and not worry about anything else.
One day you won’t be going down to wal-mart to buy a application to install and use on your computer – you will just go to a place on the internet, pay a yearly or monthly fee, and get access to the program you need that way.
For better or for worse, that is the way the tech world is going. Microsoft and other software makers couldn’t be happier – they can charge you monthly or yearly fees using that sales model, instead of a one time fee for their software.
Beware of the cloud. Its going to be great, but it will change the way we do – and pay for – things we use everyday.
FMD Network 