What is Cloud Computing?

A few years ago, cloud computing was considered a trend. Hoy en día ya se ha hecho reality. Cloud computing, the term “cloud computing”, became popular due to the need of the market for services that offer portability and mobility, since the use of devices such as tablets, laptops and smart phones has become the worst form common usage in the personal or professional context.

The name computing in the cloud was inspired by the cloud symbol that is commonly used to represent the Internet in flowcharts and diagrams. But, do you really know what is cloud computing?

Well, now we can say that one of the benefits of using computing services on the cloud is that companies can avoid the initial cost and the complexity of being in possession and maintaining their own IT infrastructure and, in exchange, simply paying for what they use , when using it.

So that this understanding is even clearer, we are going to present from now on what this technology represents and what its main characteristics are so that you have no more doubts.

What is cloud computing ?

Some time ago, much of the files and data were installed and stored on the computer itself. When you store data or run programs on your hard disk, this is called local storage and computing. Everything you need is physically accessible, which means access to your data is limited.

Cloud computing has arrived to change this scenario and allow it to be possible to store these data on servers that can be accessed from any place . In this way, it is no longer necessary to store documents, photos, audios and videos on a computer, CD or USB memory. When you store these elements in the cloud, you only need access to the Internet and you can see them all.

The first and main advantage of this is to eliminate the situation where all files are lost if the computer has problems, for example. In other words, using cloud computing means being able to access files, run them and edit them anywhere.

It is not necessary to install any application and there are no specifications of the devices that can access the cloud, since your files and data are not on a computer or specific device, but on the network.

Practical example of the use of cloud computing in our daily life

Regarding the daily use of digital tools, given that they are already in advanced use within our routine, it is difficult to define the differences between local computing and cloud computing.

This is because the cloud is part of casi todo in our computers today. You can easily have local software, such as Microsoft Office, which already uses a form of cloud computing to store files, such as Microsoft OneDrive.

Google also offers a set of applications based on the cloud, within Google Drive, which have completely online versions based on the principles of computing in the cloud of applications such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

Other well-known and widely used services around the world are Dropbox and Slack :

• Dropbox : this is a simple and reliable file storage and synchronization service on the cloud, which has improved over time with many collaboration functions for online file editing;
• Slack : Slack is considered a cloud computing service because you communicate in real time with a community of people, each using a different type of device, and you can keep all your history stored online, without the need to install anything.

Characteristics of cloud computing

As mentioned earlier, the main advantage perceived by those using cloud computing is the ability to access and use applications directly from the Internet, without the need for storage or installation on the computer. But cloud computing also has other features. Check out some links:

• The user can access some applications regardless of the hardware or operating system that he uses on his device;
• There is no need to worry about factors such as maintenance, security control and backup , as these are the responsibility of the service provider;
• It is much easier and more practical to share data, since any number of users can access them in the same place: the cloud.

For all these features to be effective, behind the cloud there is a complete layer of infrastructure distributed throughout the world that supports all online operations.

It is also important to understand that a cloud can be private or public. A public cloud sells services to any person on the Internet. The private cloud is a patented network or data center that provides services hosted to a limited number of people, with certain access settings and permissions.

Whether public or private, the objective of cloud computing is to provide easy and scalable access to computing resources and IT services.

Cloud Computing Scenario in Latin America

In Latin America, cloud computing has matured quickly. Companies of all sizes have already embraced this technology and the trend is that more and more companies and individuals are starting to enjoy all the benefits of cloud computing.

The digital transformation , a continuous process within the market, is a factor that further drives the advancement of cloud computing in the country.
Every day, different solutions appear and are adapted to this scenario.

The fact that cloud computing securely stores documents and files regardless of computer or hard disk problems is of great importance to companies. In addition, its great storage capacity means that it is not necessary to have a machine with a lot of space by hand , since each file is stored on remote servers.

Does your company already use cloud computing? ¡ Discover several cases of organizations that have already adapted to provide solutions directly on the cloud!