Understanding How Cloud Technology Works
You have likely heard of the cloud, but do you understand what it is or how its function impacts you in the digital era?
How the Cloud Works
The cloud relies on virtualization in which resources such as memory, space, and bandwidth are pooled to overcome the limits of individual servers. Virtualization builds in redundancy should individual servers fail, allowing apps and websites to remain functional.
Virtualization existed for years before Google’s then CEO Eric Schmidt first used the term ‘the cloud’ in 2006. However, the technology did not have a strong reputation. The new, friendlier nickname changed that, and marketing enabled the cloud to become a household name and even more present in our daily lives.
Benefits of the Cloud
The increase in cloud services was also made possible by increases in Internet speeds. Both mobile and home Internet connections are faster than they ever have been. This makes it possible to stream multimedia such as movies, music, and even video games, all of which are stored in the cloud. This was not possible before the broadband revolution.
But cloud technology is not just for play. Many companies rely on apps or even websites to run instead of installing software directly to machines. Thanks to the cloud and zippy connections, it is possible to engage in various activities online while saving very little data to your hard drive. Businesses have also been able to reduce hardware, electricity use, and even square footage by moving storage offsite to cloud providers that have discovered how lucrative selling cloud space can be.
Risks of the Cloud
However, cloud hosting has its risks. Hosts host more data than you can imagine, meaning companies must protect immense amounts of data. Companies often take this responsibility seriously, sometimes requiring biometric scans and employee escorts when people visit the premises. They also guard against technical issues with generators and other backup processes.
Still, digital security is just as important as physical security. Because so much data is stored in the cloud, the temptation is too much for many to resist. Data thieves do not need to step foot on site if they can hack the cloud. While hosts attempt to thwart such attacks, the thieves are occasionally successful. Even in-house errors leave data vulnerable. Consider how one Microsoft database containing over 280 million customer records was left unsecured for anyone to find. The cloud may be convenient, but it is not foolproof. However, having an IT company on your side can help, and that’s where Sanapptx comes in.
To learn more about how your business can start storing data on the cloud and how to keep that data secure, contact our team! We can meet all your Information Technology needs.
