FAQ About The Cloud

Cloud Computing FAQ

What is cloud computing?

The first Cloud Computing FAQ is “What is it?” Cloud computing is a style of computing in which massively scalable IT-related capabilities are provided ‘as a service’ using internet technologies to multiple external customers. The cloud is an approach to building information technology services that harness the rapidly increasing horsepower of servers as well as virtualization technologies that combine many servers into large computing pools and divide single servers into multiple virtual machines that can be spun up and powered down at will.

How can I make sure my data will be safe on the cloud?

As with any network, there is the danger that sensitive data could fall into the wrong hands. Before signing up with any cloud vendor, customers should get information about data security practices. Reputable companies provide documentation and audit information outlining their practices. For instance, you can learn more about the security Amazon Web Services offers by clicking on the link.

What types of applications can run in the cloud?

Technically, you can put any application in the cloud. But that doesn’t mean it’s a good idea. Making sure that your company has sufficient internet bandwidth is a very important part of the cloud evaluation process. It is important to discuss these things with your current IT provider to make sure your applications will run smoothly before you migrate them to the cloud.

Many companies are moving email offsite. You can get all the benefits of Microsoft Exchange without having to maintain an in-house server.

Accounting apps such as Peachtree and Quickbooks are can be accessed via Remote Desktop on a hosted server.

Do I have to bring my whole company to the cloud?

Absolutely not! One of the benefits of utilizing the cloud is that you can take the parts that you want and leave the ones you don’t. Cloud computing solutions scale from backing up your files online to moving your entire server infrastructure to the cloud. The tricky part is figuring out which cloud computing solutions fit your business needs.

Hybrid setups have servers in your office and in off-site data centers. Connecting them up via a private VPN allows for virtually seamless integration.

How do I get my old application server to the Cloud?

Rebuilding an older application server from scratch is tricky. Many times the technology is so old or heavily customized, its virtually impossible to recreate it. Sometimes the answer is P2V (Physical to Virtual). We take an image (snapshot in time) of your server and upload it to the hosting facility.

Can I get a copy of my data?

Yes. Each provider may have different methods of obtaining that data, but every file you access has a physical copy that can be taken from the cloud to a local server or storage device. But it’s a great question to ask before you sign up!

Are these services affordable?

Cloud computing has removed the need for organizations to run expensive and time-consuming backup processes. If a storage server in the Cloud fails due to hardware or software issues, we shift the load over to other servers or bring up a backup server in its place. You can reduce the cost of IT administration because the hardware is being taken care of for you, off-premises. Taking advantage of resources in the Cloud allows you to decrease your costs for building and expanding local infrastructure and support teams.