The global cloud computing marketplace is expected to reach US $1251.09 billion by 2028. Having emerged somewhere around the turn of the 21st century, the cloud computing marketplace has formalized into unique service and deployment models helping millions of businesses (and customers) inadvertently.
Were it not for cloud computing technology, we might still be bereft of the many conveniences we take for granted. Cloud consulting services have helped businesses off-load the bulk of IT resource management to off-shore vendors, bringing down the cost of doing business and increasing ROIs. Therefore, the question for entrepreneurs and interested prospects isn’t whether to avail cloud solutions or not, but how to?
What is Cloud Computing?
Cloud computing refers to the outsourcing of IT resource management by an organization to third-party vendors. Clients pay on the go for the computing resources they avail and are billed on a pro-rata basis.
Generally, the types of resources that are delivered on-demand include data storage systems and computational power. Subscribers become direct beneficiaries of IT resources that they avail through the internet and are spared the expenses for setting up the infrastructure in-house.
How can Cloud Computing Benefit Your Business?
As per the Denodo Global Cloud IT Survey (2021), there has been a rise in global IT businesses, upto 19.59% from 15.48% in 2020, who are inclined to move advanced workloads on cloud settings. All this is precisely due to the advantages of the cloud.
- 24/7 Connectivity
Third-party vendors use cloud computing solutions to establish access rights for files across cross-border users. Unhindered connectivity allows businesses to advance departmental functions seamlessly. The same cannot be said of traditional IT resource management.
- Limitless Storage
Growth demands massive throughput towards self-owned IT equipment. Or does it! Over the years, c-suite decision-makers have realized that stacking in-house data warehouses is like pumping funds down the drain. Instead, paying for the exact bandwidth that has been consumed (in times of peak demand) keeps money in the bank for cash-strapped enterprises.
- Flexibility
One of the greatest benefits of cloud computing is that it has unhooked IT departments from the need to invest heavily in equipment. Virtual servers open the doors for cloud subscribers to remotely access applications from anywhere around the world.
- Operational Fluidity
Noticeable cloud computing advantages for businesses include minimizing downtime and maximizing productivity. Adopting cloud computing for business operations negates building data silos in-house. As the servers mirror data across multiple layers, data backup and recovery become easier.
Types of Cloud Computing Services
Now that we have covered what is cloud computing, let us explore the various types of cloud computing models that are available for interested prospects. There are majorly three types of cloud services to choose from.
- Software-as-a-Service (SaaS)
- Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS)
- Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS)
How Much does Cloud Computing Cost?
This is a rather tough question to answer. You should perform an audit of your current IT infrastructure which should help you identify computational necessities in terms of a cloud environment. In fact, you can bifurcate the same into direct and indirect costs. Direct costs cover license fees, bandwidth allocation, cost of equipment, server capacity, and the likes. In the same vein, indirect costs include workforce management, workspace rent, and hardware maintenance among others.
While we’ve summarized the journey for a better understanding, the cost varies as per the requirements of each business. However, if you’re looking to get a ballpark figure then it costs approximately USD 400 per month for one cloud server. This could go upto USD 15,000 to avail the entire back-office infrastructure as a service.
Endnote
This brings us to the end of this guide on cloud computing. If you’re interested in getting cloud computing services for your business, get in touch.
We are a full-scale app development company helping startups and enterprises fulfill their cloud and product development goals for many years. We have helped many prestigious brands, including IKEA, Domino’s, KFC, and Adidas achieve great results in their business with our custom-made cloud solutions.