When it comes to small businesses, the question that comes to their mind is, should they opt for a dedicated server or move to the cloud? To get an accurate answer to the above question, skilled DBAs proficient in database management systems suggest one should understand what cloud computing is and how it can benefit their small business.
An overview of cloud computing
Cloud computing refers to delivering the on-demand IT resources companies need for their business operations via the Internet. These generally include business software solutions, network servers, data centers, databases, virtual desktops, and web-based customer-facing applications. Using this platform, corporate enterprises can even avail a wide range of technical services. These can be in data backup, emergency disaster recovery, email, big data analysis, and software development.
The vendors offering them this outsourcing facility maintains a “pay-as-you-use” pricing policy for all their customers. This is a convenient alternative for the companies to purchasing and maintaining an entire on-premise IT infrastructure.
“Sometimes going the pay-as-you-use route means you have extra funds for other important aspects of your business” – says Dima Suponau, the founder of Extension File
How does cloud computing work?
Cloud computing is essentially an application-based information technology (IT) infrastructure which stores companies’ data on remote servers. The front-end of this platform enables them to access this information via satellite networks using an Internet browser.
However, any cloud computing platform’s critical component is the back-end section comprised of computers, central servers, and databases, http://ergonotes.com/ says.
Its primary function is to ensure the proper storage and security of the companies’ vital business data. The center server in the back-end segment of a cloud computing platform facilitates the necessary operations. In doing so, this hardware component follows a set of specific protocols and uses a special middleware. This is to ensure seamless connectivity between various computers and devices which make up the cloud computing platform.
Modes of deployment
A third-party corporate service provider known as a hosting company invests its resources in building and upgrading the cloud computing infrastructure. It lends its infrastructure and facilities to other companies for a reasonable price to automate its business operations. This corporate enterprise is then responsible for ensuring:
- The cloud computing platform has adequate storage capacity and computing power to meet their customers’ needs.
- The security of their corporate customers’ vital business data.
The hosting company can deploy a cloud computing platform using any of the following deployment modes:
Public cloud
In this deployment model, the third-party service provider owns and pays for the maintenance of infrastructure. However, it allows other companies to use its storage facilities and computing power for their business operations. In return, these companies pay an annual or monthly charge to the third-party service provider.
Private cloud
In a private cloud, the service provider hosts the platform for the exclusive use of only one of its customers. It becomes an integral part of this company’s on-site physical data center. However, this corporate enterprise has to hire and pay the host company to maintain it.
Hybrid cloud
This cloud computing platform combines the technology of both the public and private versions. The hosting company allows its corporate customers to migrate their business data via public and private clouds. This offers them greater flexibility to optimize the capacity of their existing infrastructure and ensure the security of their data.
Types of cloud computing models
The cloud computing models which a hosting company offers its corporate customers fall under the following categories:
Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS)
This is the most basic cloud computing service the corporate vendor can provide to small companies. These enterprises can rent the entire IT infrastructure from the host company. This includes network servers, operating systems, data centers, storage devices, and virtual machines. Every resource the service provider offers the company is chargeable as a separate service component.
Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS)
In this cloud computing service, the vendor provides an on-demand infrastructure that high-tech companies require to develop new web-based software applications. This can include network servers, development tools, data centers, middleware, database management systems, and storage devices. The corporate service provider might go a step further by offering the companies suitable business intelligence (BI) solutions. To know more, one may consult skilled experts in database management and administration at RemoteDBA.com.
Software-as-a-Service (SaaS)
Software-as-a-Service refers to a method by which a hosting company can provide on-demand software applications to small corporate enterprises. This corporate service provider takes on the responsibility of hosting and managing the software applications, including the relevant infrastructure. It even performs critical maintenance services like ensuring timely software upgrades and conducting security patching.
How does a cloud computing server differ from a dedicated version?
Many small companies are often confused about cloud computing servers and how they work. So, they opt for an on-premise server instead that is dedicated to their needs. A dedicated server is a physical off-site server that is not compatible with or does not use visualization technology. All of this server’s computing power and storage resources are within its hardware infrastructure. It is like a desktop computer having a motherboard, central processing unit (CPU), hard drive, RAM, GPU, and network card.
The cloud computing server differs from a dedicated version in the following ways:
- It can be accessed using root devices such as Android smartphones.
- The server can be scalable as per the enterprises’ needs.
- The server permits sharing of its storage resources.
Benefits of cloud computing
The benefits of using a cloud computing service platform for small companies to automate their business operations are as follows:
- It eliminates the need to incur any capital expenditure on acquiring an on-site IT infrastructure.
- The host companies they hire will implement the latest cybersecurity protocols to ensure the safety of their vital data.
- The performance of the platform can be scaled according to their business expansion needs.
- Retrieval of redundant data is possible with the platform’s backup, emergency disaster recovery, and business continuity features.
- Relieves their IT employees of performing mundane tasks like hardware installation and software patching.
Therefore, cloud computing has a series of benefits for small companies. However, they should take the time to choose a good service provider with credibility in the market for catering to their business needs with success!
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