Many have heard the term recently but are wondering: What is cloud computing?

Well, thankfully you found a place where you can gain a basic understanding of what cloud computing is all about. If we succeed in our goal of teaching you the basics of cloud computing, the hope is that you will be able to provide an answer when someone asks you, “What is cloud computing?”

Let’s start off by talking about the “cloud” in cloud computing. The cloud isn’t what you see when you look up into the sky just before the rain begins to pour down without warning. In this case, the cloud is actually a group of interconnected network servers (or computers). The cloud then allows multiple documents or data to be used by a number of different people. And these people don’t have to be in one location either; they can be in several different locations. This creates a lot of convenience for those spread out in diverse locations needing to access and use the same information.

Also, when answering the question of “What is cloud computing” it’s important to highlight a key safety feature inherent with uitlising a cloud. With cloud computing there is no need to worry about losing information should your computer crash. This is a moot point when using a cloud because the cloud is run from a server not directly on your own personal computer (or anyone else using the cloud for that matter). Because everyone will be accessing the cloud via an internet connection, a crash affects no one, because the software being used is not directly on any one computer.

Businesses are using this latest IT phenomenon as a way to streamline their business. You can have one data center which stores all the software applications used by your employees, as an example. Enterprise cloud computing is actually the term that refers to business applications run via a cloud. The cost is less, the efficiency is better, and the time to get an application up and running in different locations is greatly reduced. Businesses like cloud computing because it is more secure and allows for greater flexibility.

But it isn’t just big business that is benefiting from cloud computing. Everyday consumers are taking advantage of cloud computing without even knowing it. I bet when you first wanted to know “What is cloud computing” you may not have known you were already taking advantage of its benefits. “How?” you ask. Well, if you have a Gmail account through Google, this is an application which is supported via the use of cloud computing. In fact, the Google Calendar, Google Docs & Spreadsheets are all accessed via the Google Server but access by millions every day. Many reading this may not have known that cloud computing was already a part of your world!

So as you can see, cloud computing is a unique way to connect computers utilising the cloud. You can take advantage of having access to documents, images, and messages all via the use of the cloud. Hopefully you can now answer the question of “what is cloud computing” with some level of authority.