Cloud-based software is key in navigating the COVID-19 crisis. It enabled many businesses to keep their workforces connected, even when offices and shops closed. But cloud-based software offers much more than a way to take the office on the go. It also provides a springboard for digital transformation, innovation, and collaboration.
There’s little doubt that cloud-based software will take us to extraordinary places. But where did it come from and how has it changed? And most importantly, how can businesses use it to get ahead in the New Normal?
Simply put, cloud computing uses remote servers to store and secure data. Users can then access this data via Internet-enabled devices, whenever and wherever they please. This lets businesses share information outside of the office, and enables team members to view the same data in real-time. In the wake of COVID-19, this was a game-changer.
There are three types of cloud computing:
The most common type of cloud computing, SaaS delivers fully functional, user-ready applications that are easy to customise. SaaS providers handle back-end concerns like maintenance and troubleshooting. This makes it a hassle-free choice for businesses without robust IT departments. Salesforce’s CRM tools are an example of SaaS.
Iaas is a popular choice for organisations that want to take charge of customising their own solutions. Perhaps the greatest benefit of IaaS is it helps businesses scale rapidly since additional capacity can be accessed on demand. IaaS hosts typically provide organisations with infrastructure elements such as servers, hardware, and firewalls. However, users must provide their own operating systems and some middleware.
PaaS falls somewhere in between SaaS and IaaS. It gives businesses the developmental tools they need to create their own apps! PaaS providers also handle security and infrastructure. The Salesforce Platform is an example of PaaS. It provides users with the ability to easily build apps by clicking and dragging components.
These three types of cloud computing all share the same goals:
provide the user with easier data access
allow greater capacity to scale the business
increase agility and security from anywhere in the world
The idea of renting computer space goes back to the 1960s, before the spread of affordable PCs. But it wasn’t until the new millennium that cloud computing came into its own. Here’s a bite-sized timeline of the history of cloud computing:
Cloud computing has exploded in the past decade. And it should only grow and evolve further, especially since it’s a crucial pillar for digital transformation. Digital transformation (DX) was a priority before the pandemic, but the shift to remote workforces and the need to engage in new ways has only highlighted its importance.
According to an IDC white paper, investment in cloud-based technologies will increase from less than 25% of all DX spending in 2019 to almost a third by 2024.
Digital transformation has been a popular topic for several years, but the new business landscape has made it a necessity. Connecting employees and customers shouldn’t have to depend on rows of PCs, daisy-chained together in a central office that everyone has to travel too. Not when there’s a better, faster world waiting in the cloud.
To read more about how digital transformation and cloud-based software can help companies navigate COVID-19, download the IDC white paper.