What is Cloud?
TL;DR
The cloud means using servers and software over the internet instead of installing them on your own computers.
Example
Cloud vs. traditional:
Traditional (on-premise):
- Buy servers, install in your office
- Pay for hardware, electricity, IT staff
- You maintain and update everything
- Data stored locally
Cloud:
- Rent computing power from providers
- Pay monthly based on usage
- Provider handles maintenance
- Access from anywhere with internet
Cloud services you probably use:
- Google Drive, Dropbox (file storage)
- Gmail, Office 365 (email)
- Slack, Teams (communication)
- Salesforce, HubSpot (business apps)
- Netflix, Spotify (entertainment)
If you access it through a browser without installing anything, it's probably cloud-based.
Explanation
Types of Cloud Services
IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service): Rent raw computing power, storage, networking. Examples: AWS, Azure, Google Cloud For: Building custom applications
PaaS (Platform as a Service): Development platform without managing infrastructure. Examples: Heroku, Vercel, Railway For: Developers deploying applications
SaaS (Software as a Service): Ready-to-use applications in the browser. Examples: Salesforce, Slack, Shopify For: Business users
Cloud Deployment Models
Public cloud: Shared infrastructure (most common) Private cloud: Dedicated to one organization Hybrid cloud: Mix of public and private
Why It Matters
For Business Owners
Cloud reduces upfront costs. No need to buy expensive servers. Pay monthly and scale up or down as needed.
Cloud enables remote work. Employees can access systems from anywhere. Essential for modern distributed teams.
Cloud providers handle security and updates. Major providers invest billions in security. Usually more secure than self-hosted.
Cloud scales instantly. Need more capacity for a busy season? Scale up with a click. Scale down when it's over.
Cloud Concerns
Data location: Know where your data is stored (important for GDPR) Vendor lock-in: Switching providers can be difficult Internet dependency: No internet = no access Ongoing costs: Monthly fees add up over years
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