What is Cloud Computing Used for?
Cloud Computing is a term that is often heard today. Everywhere in the media there are mentions of The Cloud and what it can do for your and your business. But, what is cloud computing used for? The answer lies in what this form of computing actually is.
You can buy software to perform many millions of functions, and load it on your computer. This is the standard method for using software. You have to physically install the software either by running an executable or install program from a disc, or downloading the install portion from the web or a server.
Once the program is installed you run it from your computer hard drive, and save related files to your computer also. For example, if you develop a web page with software that is installed on your computer, you then save the files to the computer and upload the web page to the internet server, when it is ready.
Using the Cloud you can develop a web site with online software, save it to the online server and publish it to the web when it is ready. Other than saving backup files on your local machine, no software actually has to be installed on it. This eliminates the installation process, the storage, and the possibility of a crashed computer losing the data for what you have created.
This saves money and time. You can own a minimal computer, possibly one that only has a web browser, and still have the ability to do a wide variety of computing. This puts a lot of computing power in situations where it might not be possible or practical otherwise. The Cloud can be accessed from Smart Phones, Tablets, PCs, Macs and truly any machine that can get onto the Internet.
You can use the Cloud to work with spreadsheets, documents, presentations, picture editing, illustrations and graphics, as well as social networking, videos, music and many, many more functions, which grow and become more varied daily. Many are free, and all are easily accessed.