As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to change the landscape of business and organizational storage, the use of cloud computing is entering its second decade. An assortment of industries has begun leveraging the power of cloud computing to optimize performance and accessibility.
Defined by universal access and powerful storage mechanisms, cloud computing is the act of downloading or streaming services over the internet to reach users on any device. Dubbed the cloud because of its universal presence, cloud computing is deployed to manage the following tech solutions:
- Web Servers
- Data Storage
- Big Databases & Blockchain
- Networking
- Integrated Software
- Data Analytics
- Artificial Intelligence
In 2017, a vast portion of businesses pivoted to cloud computing options due to faster speeds, adaptable resources, and lower cost per tech item. Thousands of businesses currently rely on cloud computing to reduce strain on their employees and improve network security. Experts believe that the future of cloud computing is limitless, and we’re only now beginning to realize its potential.
One of these experts is Geoff Creaghan, the Principal Higher Education lead for a prominent cloud computing company. Creaghan has over two decades of experience in the industry and has seen the evolution of cloud computing. “It’s amazing to see just how quickly industries can grow and evolve with cloud-based strategies,” he said to reporters. “It speaks to the power of the technology and the savvy of each industry to harness it. In a few years’ time, I can imagine hundreds of thousands of businesses relying on cloud-based solutions. It’s not just the future of our businesses, but a mark of great things to come.”
Creaghan harnesses the power of Cloud Advisory and Implementation services for educational facilities around the country, from universities and colleges to community-based organizations. His goal is to help educators adapt to digital transformation strategies more effectively and pivot to innovative solutions that make a difference for students, faculty, and staff. As more and more educational facilities build roadmaps to cloud computing, the case for supporting their strategic decisions grows.
There are currently three different types of cloud solutions available to organizations including public, private, and hybrid clouds. Microsoft Azure is just one example of a public cloud. They are easily accessible, open to many different organizations, and can be scaled almost an unlimited number of times. Private clouds are best described as those created by private or sensitive organizations. The United States Government operates under its own private cloud, giving it advanced privacy, personalization, and particular tech stacks. Finally, hybrid clouds combine the advantages of private and public clouds. Although they are more expensive, they are often very scalable and highly functional.
Educational facilities choose to pivot toward cloud computing for many reasons, including:
- Lower Cost: Companies can choose to purchase individual tools within the cloud rather than entire tech stacks. This saves thousands of dollars on unused features and increases the organization’s control over its tools and system.
- High Speed: Cloud tools can be accessed at any time and from any location, often with far faster speeds than local drives or storage solutions. Additionally, cloud computing has a very reduced downtime, leading to better results for educational facilities and their customers.
- Increased Security: Software and data housed in the cloud are extremely secure. Tools and documents can only be accessed if prior authorization has been given. Advanced cloud techniques help to reduce Phishing attacks, unauthorized accesses, and the management of passwords and sensitive materials.
- Better Reliability: Data loss, corruption, or removal can be devastating for large organizations relying on lead lists and submitted information. Keeping track of expensive data is made easy through the use of condensed sites and regular backups on all devices. Provider networks are easily integrated with cloud computing reliability factors.
- Large Scale: Because cloud computing tools are available via the internet, they are accessible from almost any place on Earth. This means that data, documents, and other resources can be used by teams worldwide. This enables large-scale organizations like colleges and universities to offer online classes for students in many locations.
But higher education is not the only industry leveraging the power of cloud computing. The entertainment and media industry is a close second in the race to technological innovation.
The media industry requires a fast-paced delivery of assets, images, video, and more. Laborers in this field need extensive access to technology no matter where they are. Access from any device, as well as on-the-go resources, are paramount to their success.
The modern world is growing increasingly used to content on-demand. Therefore, the immediate delivery and availability of media is possibly the most demanding part of the industry’s vertical. This is one of the reasons why over-the-top content (OTT) has become intrinsically linked with cloud computing. Both audio and video channels can be streamed to users on-demand, completely apart from system operators and distribution managers. This system virtually upgrades the entire industry with a faster time to market and more cost-effective casting solutions.
Cloud computing is becoming prevalent across a number of growing industries, including but not limited to the following:
- The Automotive / Manufacturing Industry
- Fintech & Financial Planning Institutions
- Healthcare Organizations
- Insurance Companies
- Hospitality Businesses
- Real Estate Brokers
It’s easy to see that the diversity of cloud computing provides utility to industries all over the world. As time goes on, it will become imperative to integrate with this growing technology and harness its power accordingly.
