Solimar Ltd. are always exploring new technologies for our clients. As well as supplying and implementing traditional hardware network infrastructures, we have now begun implementing Cloud services (Amazon Web Services primarily) to replace traditional hardware server roles. Dealing with Africa and the Middle East, we also believe AWS and other Cloud platforms can provide a great solution in locations that have already implemented a decent Fibre Optic backbone but environmental considerations mean traditional hardware can suffer (heat, dust, etc.). Here are 8 benefits to cloud computing:
1. Flexible
Cloud-based services are great for clients with fluctuating bandwidth demands. As the demand grows, it’s easy to scale up resources by adding virtual hardware in just a few steps. Likewise, if demand decreases, scaling down is easy and immediate. This level of agility can give real advantage over competitors.
2. Reliable
Disaster recovery is a critical element for most clients. Due to the nature of the environment in some locations, hardware can malfunction long before expected. Hosting servers in the cloud means that hardware reliability is never an issue due to seemingly endless supply of virtual servers and other virtual hardware. Also there is no large price tag purchasing complex clustered hardware meaning clients can make considerable savings.
3. Up-to-date
With servers off-premise, deploying software updates and system maintenance is no longer a consideration. Automated updates are all part of the Cloud service meaning servers are always secure and up-to-date
4. Avoid Costly hardware
Cloud computing cuts out the high cost of hardware. Most Cloud platforms have various subscription-based models to suit requirements. There is no need for an expensive hardware infrastructure solution installed locally, which includes the high cost of maintenance and replacement parts over time.
5. Work from anywhere
With Cloud computing, an internet connection is all that’s required to be at work. Securing the connection with encrypted VPN means that security is never an issue too.
6. Secure
Installing servers in unsecured rooms with an unsecured network infrastructure and adding unsecured legacy hardware to the network are all common problems in a large networked environment and ripe for hackers or thieves to exploit, accessing critical business data. Storing data in the Cloud means you can access it no matter what happens locally, safe in the knowledge that the security within the Cloud platform is extremely robust.
7. Competitive
The Cloud gives everyone access to enterprise-class technology. It also allows smaller businesses to act faster than larger, established competitors running legacy systems. Pay-as-you-go service and Cloud business applications means competing at the same level.
8. Environmentally friendly
As the clients needs fluctuate, so can the resources within the Cloud. Server capacity, speeds and power can scale up and down as needed. So only the energy required at the time is used leaving less of a carbon footprint.