Cloud computing is a model for providing computing services via the internet, which allows access and use of networks, servers, databases, software, storage, among others, remotely, without the need for these resources to be physically located in the local environment of companies or businesses.
That is, instead of businesses investing in their own IT infrastructure, they can hire cloud services from specialized providers, allowing them greater flexibility, scalability and profitability with IT resources because they only invest in what they use, according to their needs.
Cloud computing is composed of three service models: IaaS (Infrastructure as a service), PaaS (Platform as a service) and SaaS (Software as a service).
There are different types of cloud - public, private, community and hybrid - all of which aim to facilitate access to computing resources and IT services in a simple and scalable way.
The public cloud is an outsourced service - owned and operated by the vendor - that provides technology resources such as servers and storage, via the Internet.
As for the private cloud, this refers to cloud resources used exclusively by a single company or organization. The cloud can be located in the company's data center or, for a fee, hosted by providers of this type of service.
The community cloud is often used by government organizations, financial institutions and regulated sectors - e.g. healthcare - that need a centralized and controlled approach to data management. It allows the sharing of hardware, software and infrastructure, helping to reduce costs and improve efficiency, and offers a unique combination of flexibility, scalability and security.
The hybrid cloud refers to the combination of the public and private clouds - the union of technology allows data and applications to be easily shared. This mobility enables companies to offer greater flexibility and helps optimize infrastructure and security.
Business Benefits
Accessibility
Access to data and information of a company or organization through mobile devices is one of the possibilities offered by cloud computing.
The possibility of storing data and information in the cloud is a way to allow employees to work with greater agility from anywhere. Cloud data and information can easily be stored and retrieved, allowing users to access and send data and information via the internet, through any computer or mobile device.
Scalability
Naturally, different companies or organizations will not have the same kind of IT needs, which makes cloud storage an effective solution when it comes to business scalability.
The number of users can increase or decrease as the business needs over time, and storage capacity can be easily increased without the need for investment in additional hardware.
Security
Specialized cloud providers typically offer security measures ranging from data encryption, user authentication, security monitoring, automatic data backup and protection against external threats.
This makes it critical that companies and organizations choose trusted providers and implement appropriate security practices to ensure that sensitive and confidential information remains safe from external attacks.
Cloud computing can be a powerful aid for businesses and organizations to increase productivity, collaboration and ensure the security of data and information, allowing them to focus on core business activities and improve efficiency.