The New Wave of Cloud Computing

By Nick Carson - Published Issue 4, 19th Oct’09

The “Cloud” is a metaphor for the internet, and the topic of cloud computing and web based services are quickly becoming a reality. Corporations of all sizes employ a lot of overhead simply to run their IT department. Of course, this is a necessity in order to manage a slew of computers that keep a business on its feet.

From servers to workstations to switches, there is a lot that goes into managing a network within a company. First, there is the initial investment of buying all the hardware and software required, which is followed by the operating costs of employing staff to manage the network and troubleshoot difficulties. Cloud computing alleviates much of the financial strain on companies by providing an external service instead of a dedicated in-house solution.

Currently, computers are purchased and upgraded by physically adding new components to make them faster and installing software locally to make them more usable. With a cloud controlled computing environment, all that would be required is to purchase a sort of terminal, which could be as simple as a monitor attached to a small computer capable of connecting to a network. This terminal connects to a server in the “cloud” and streams an operating system along with its software directly to the user.

With cloud computing, all computation and processing is done remotely on the server, therefore requiring very little processing power on the terminal’s part. Upgrading is simple as requesting more speed and power through the service instead of upgrading hardware locally. Likewise, software is purchased and installed just as easily on that user’s account.

Another beauty of cloud computing is allowing a user access from any terminal. Because terminal requirements are so low, one is just as good as any other. Even computers seen as outdated can utilize the full power of cloud computing, which makes the cost of computing decrease exponentially. The beginnings of the transition to cloud based computing can already be seen through several established and emerging technologies.

Google Docs is a prime example of the transition to cloud computing. If you have not had experience with it already, Google Docs gives you a full featured office suite where you can create and edit word documents, spreadsheets and more. What’s different is that its online and accessed through a web browser. This simplifies the process of moving documents around on disks and flash drives from computer to computer.

Microsoft has taken note of this new wave of web and cloud based services, and is poised to release its flagship Microsoft Office suite as free, web-accessible products. Documents can be created and edited, like Google Docs, and saved on a remote server accessible anywhere. The trend is toward more and more services accessed through the internet.

The infrastructure is not fully there yet to realize cloud computing for everyone. However, it is being slowly implemented within companies to manage the increasing number of computers in a more cost efficient way. Cloud computing is great for business, as it can reduce a lot of the costs in hardware, alleviate data loss problems and provide fewer barriers to entry.