Has anyone ever tried to explain cloud computing to you? Were you left feeling a little, well… cloudy?

The best example of cloud computing I can think of is an email service like Gmail or Hotmail. There’s nothing to download. All you need is an internet connection and you can start sending emails. The server and software is all on the cloud (internet) and is totally managed by the cloud service provider. All you have to do is use the software and enjoy receiving and sending off those emails.

‘Why buy a cow when you can have the milk for way way less?’ 

 Just to send an email (the milk) why should you have to buy a software /hardware (the cow) ?

The Cloud can make your business more efficient than ever!

A cloud is actually just someone else’s server. Imagine a document on your computer. It’s local, you can access it. The cloud would be someone else’s computer, with a link so you can access it through the internet.

Like Gizmodo says: ‘Cloud” is a buzzword that vaguely suggests the promise and convenience of being able to access files from anywhere. But the reality is that the cloud is hardly floating like mist above our heads — it’s a physical infrastructure, its many computers housed in massive warehouses all over the world.’

But that’s just for data storage. What about other applications?

Well, that’s where the term “SAAS” comes from: Software as a Service. There are some examples of this as well: Buffer and Hootsuite for social media, Mailchimp and Constant Contacts to send massive amounts of emails at once, or even things like Google Analytics and Adwords to create and run campaigns online. These are all run by, and based on, “the Cloud”.

Software like this tends to cost less, a small monthly fee or pay-per-service model. As well as being constantly updated with new features and capabilities, and have more uptime. As compared to maintaining your own software, and your own servers, and be prone to power outages  as well as higher costs.

And just like a good SaaS or a good Cloud storage provider can help you save money and focus on your business, so can we here at Virtual Business Offices. Get a Bay Street Address – Internationally recognized as the Business Center of Toronto – mail collection and forwarding, phone answering services and more!