What is The Cloud? More importantly how will it affect your business. What do people mean when they say “is it Cloud-based” or “is it in The Cloud?”. We get asked this SO often, we’ve taken to delivering presentations to our clients and contacts, to explain what we mean. This video takes a light-hearted look at the evolution of computing services and hopefully leaves viewers of what is meant by The Cloud.

For those of you who haven’t got a few minutes to spare (to watch the video) here are a few salient points.

1. Cloud-based, tends to mean that the software or “application” is hosted in a data centre and that users can connect to and use the software via the Internet. (Just like you would when visiting a website)

2. This opens the way, for software vendors to charge for the software on a “pay-as-you-go” basis. So users of the software can effectively “rent” the use of the complete software (as a) service including all required hardware and software. All the customer needs to have is a computer in his office with an Internet connection.

So, that covers the basics – a little more information (if you’ve got time)

At this point people usually ask why? Well if you follow the steps above what you’re effectively doing is outsourcing the delivery of computer resources, so it may be better to ask why not? After all unless you are in the business of setting up and managing computer resources, such as file servers, backup systems, security and anti-virus protocols, then you are probably already outsourcing the delivery of those services, it’s just that your hosting them within your own offices.

Broadband Internet access allows us to connect to remote sites (data centres) quickly and efficiently, furthermore those data centres can “professionally” host, manage and secure file servers, so why bother doing it yourself?

Apart from the fact that these data centres bring a level of expertise to hosting (that you were unlikely to be able to provide yourself) economies of scale mean that they are able to deliver those services to you cheaper than you can obtain them yourself. A process called virtualisation is key in this, basically it allows large file servers to be segmented or split up into smaller manageable portions. You would then connect to one of those portions that was just the right size for your needs. Virtualisation also allows the size of these portions to be increased or decreased as required. The upshot being that you can buy just as much, or just as little computing power as you need and you can be charged accordingly. This outsourcing model really does deliver a better service at a better price!

Security (not a dirty word)

“What about security?” Is the perennial cry. “I can’t outsource my financial accounts” (for example), because I’m worried about security. This is really a concern based on lack of knowledge or fear of the unknown, because in most cases moving an application to The Cloud will substantially increase security, not decrease it. Let’s look at the relevant facts.

1. You will invariably access the application from the same PC or laptop that you use now, from that perspective security will neither increase or decrease, as there will be no change.

2. However your server will be located remotely in a secure data centre, where access will be restricted to authorised staff, rigourously enforced via access control, photo ID, and 24-hour CCTV monitoring. No doubt state-of-the-art fire suppression systems will be installed throughout and invariably data will be automatically backed up and removed from the site on a daily if not hourly basis. Does your server room provide that level of security?

3. Transmission between your PC and your remotely hosted fileserver is encrypted using the same level of security service (https), that is adopted by most banks. Security from this respect is assured.

4. This would leave what could be termed online hostile attack (from a well resourced and expert intruder) as the only remaining threat to be considered. Once again we would urge you to compare how secure your own installation is when compared to that hosted by a professional datacentre where extensive resources are permanently deployed.

After data centres are in the business of securing all their clients’ resources. Anything but the highest levels of security are simply not tolerated.

On Line Banking

We have by now embraced online banking and recognise the benefits that it brings and come to terms with the security processes that we all need to adopt. Secure passwords as a minimum and identity tokens (keypads with unique pin access) where additional security is required. Such systems can be included in access to all “cloud-based” systems, but in most cases common sense around the distribution of usernames and passwords is all that is required.

The Weakest link?

Finally a word on e-mail, for in truth, in terms of security e-mail really is the weakest link. In almost every case e-mail messages are transmitted over the Internet in a completely unencrypted format, leaving such content open to interception, by even the most minimally resourced interloper!

So if you’re worried about security, clamping down on e-mail would be a good place to start. A second might be to move your more sensitive applications to the cloud?

If you’d like to know more about the cloud or talk to us about our own cloud-based services why not call us on the number below, we’d be delighted to hear from you. If you’d like to try out a cloud-based service why not take up the 30 day free trial offer on any of our systems?

Call 0203 369 6491