Which cloud services does your business need?
Cloud computing has become a staple enabling your business to manage workloads more efficiently, use your data for driving decisions for growth, and gain a competitive advantage. When faced with many different types of cloud services, it can be difficult to choose what best facilitates the success of your business. Most SMBs will be looking at the following two different cloud service models:
- Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
The most popular and well-known type of IaaS is the virtual machine — a digital version of on-premises computers or servers that is accessed over the internet. IaaS offers services such as pay-as-you-go storage, networking, and virtualization. IaaS gives users cloud-based alternatives to expensive on-premises infrastructure, so businesses can use their funds to invest in other things.
In other words, if you are looking to virtualize your systems via the cloud, IaaS is a good place to start, as it allows you to move existing applications into the cloud. Other solutions can then be migrated or introduced as needed.
IaaS is essentially:
- Highly flexible and scalable
- Accessible by multiple users
- Cost-effective
2. Software-as-a-Service (SaaS)
Unlike software that you install on your computer, SaaS solutions are apps that are hosted on a provider’s servers. SaaS uses the cloud to process app functions for users. That is, when a user opens a mobile or web browser app, the device merely sends inputs to a data centre. The data centre then processes the inputs and sends its outputs back to the user’s device.
Minimal to no processing is done on the user’s device itself. And for as long as users have an internet connection, they can access the software from any device, anywhere and at any time.
With SaaS, your provider is responsible for application maintenance and updates, which means all users will be using the same version of a particular software and get updates at the same time. As a business owner, this means that managing the software on all your computers is no longer necessary since the vendor does it all.
SaaS software solutions include email service, office document creation suites, accounting software, HR solutions, content management tools, customer relationship management systems, and much more.
In a nutshell, SaaS is:
- Available over the internet
- Hosted on a remote server by the vendor
- Scalable, often with different tiers for small, medium, and enterprise-level businesses
- Inclusive, offering security, compliance, and maintenance as part of the cost
While the cloud offers a wide variety of benefits and solutions, choosing the best service for your company’s needs can be complex and time-consuming. Omega Network Solutions will help you come up with the best plan ensuring proper migration and implementation, so you can focus on running your business.