If you use any kind of technology product these days, you’ve probably heard about cloud computing. From television commercials advertising cloud services to hardware and software manufacturers touting the latest in cloud computing technology, it seems as if data from all over is migrating into the cloud – but what is the cloud?
Old Technology Reinvented
Surprisingly, cloud computing is actually an old technology that has been around since the dawn of the Internet. Essentially, cloud computing boils down to networking, only with more complex schematics. In the past, networking through the Internet typically worked by connecting one user or device to another, allowing for only one single connection. Through cloud computing, however, users and devices can connect to each other as well as other users and devices through third-party cloud services. This means that networking connections are no longer limited to a one-to-one ratio, but instead, they can pass through a variety of different networks to transfer and store data.
Changing How Storage Works
Today’s cloud computing also relies on a variety of storage methods, like the ones found at www.qualitytech.com, to help users keep data with them on the go. For instance, a person can upload a file to a cloud storage site from home, and then when the person goes to work, he or she can access the site and retrieve the file. Another example may be where someone is playing a video game at home and they save their game in the middle of a level. In the past, the saved game would have only been available on the system at the person’s home, but by uploading the save file to a cloud storage site, the person can go to a friend’s house, retrieve the save file and continue playing where he or she left off at home.
Smarter Services
Cloud computing can also offer people and businesses the chance to take advantage of software processing services that were previously either unavailable or very limited. This kind of cloud computing technology is referred to as “software as a service,” and it can give users the chance to complete software tasks online without having to download anything. An example of software as a service might be where a business wants to process payments on its website, but it doesn’t want to deal with the hassle of installing or maintaining point-of-sale software. By partnering with a company that offers software-as-a-service checkout software, the company can use the provider’s software and network to process payments.
Better Maintenance
In addition, cloud services help to take the complication out of system maintenance. Because a cloud services provider is the entity responsible for maintaining networking components, servers and more, business owners who use these services won’t have to worry about hiring extra IT support staff to keep things running smoothly.
If you or your business would like to learn more about how cloud computing can help you make stronger, more complex networking connections, you may want to consider contacting a cloud services provider. These professionals can evaluate your current needs, suggest solutions to help you work smarter and install and maintain cloud services for you. To find a services provider who can assist you, you can check online to compare services, or you can contact providers found in your local phonebook.
Saam Banai is a freelance writer and editor. He contributes this article for Quality Technology Services, an organization dedicated to providing the best data storage and cloud computing services around. You can find them at www.qualitytech.com; visit to learn more about what they offer and how you can reinvent the way you store your digital information.
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