Why You Should Embrace The “Cloud”
3 minutes | Word Count: 550“Cloud computing” might be a hot buzz-phrase in the tech world, but the technology itself is no flavor-of-the-week flash in the pan. As mobile devices become smaller and more portable, the physical space allocated for storage continues to shrink. These size constraints in turn raise the demand for reliable remote cloud storage solutions. Whether you’re a fan of cloud computing or you’re resisting the shift, you can be sure that the cloud is not likely to soon go the way of the 8-track tape or Betamax. This technology is here to stay, and with that in mind, it is useful to become familiar with the immense benefits of cloud-based computing and why you should embrace it.
Reliability
Like most new technology, cloud computing has its vocal advocates and its ardent detractors, but the arguments along these lines tend to break down over similar factors. People who push for a larger focus on cloud computing tout the reliability of the technology as a primary driving reason for adopting cloud-based services. With no hardware to malfunction, the reliability of the system increases immeasurably. A malfunctioning hard drive will no longer be able to corrupt your data, destroy your work, or ruin your day. Another benefit of abandoning the hardware element is the freedom from storage limitations. These days, if you simply run out of space on your hard drive, you have to buy a larger one, install that new hardware in your computer, transfer the data over, etc. Repeat ad nauseum until you feel the urge to transition to a more modern solution. That modern solution you crave is cloud storage, such as the services offered by Navisite. If you run out space, it’s no big deal because you can always add more. There are no hard drives to swap out or external drives to plug in. Just connect and go. That is the simple vision of cloud computing, one that is becoming closer to a reality every day.
Ease of Access
Unfettered access to all of your data, from any workstation or device, is another a huge selling point for cloud computing. If your computer breaks down, not only is your data preserved remotely but you can simply borrow a machine from a colleague and pick up right where you left off. Finally, in the business world, one of the biggest selling points is the ease of collaboration that comes with cloud technology. When working with a cloud platform, colleagues around the world can collaborate in real-time on a document without sending files back and forth or creating and combining alternate versions. There is a clear sense of simplicity to cloud computing technology that appeals to businesses and personal users as well, and that simplicity is one of the primary drivers in the cloud computing revolution.
It is truly hard to predict where technology will take us over the next twenty, fifty, or one hundred years. But it is easy to see what is right in front of us. The move to cloud computing is a necessary and much needed improvement over the current model, and one we should all welcome with open arms.
Resource Box: Esteban O’Neill is a technology blogger, gadget-enthusiast, and animal lover.