Which is better: branded or independent cloud service providers?

Any company seeking to avail itself the advantages inherent in cloud computing has at one point asked this question. The nascent nature of cloud computing has made it difficult for most to decide which kind of cloud computing company would best serve their needs. The situation has further been complicated by the low levels of knowledge on cloud services. All of this has then been mired in controversy due to the proliferation of pointless myths as to the cost and effectiveness of services. 

There are several key aspects to consider before deciding between a brand name and an independent cloud services provider. The first is the expertise behind the cloud computing solution provided. Cloud computing, especially within the commercial sense, is a recent development. Furthermore, most companies are developing their cloud computing platforms in isolated and proprietary environments. This has led to cloud solutions that are only standard in the nature of the services they provide. The question of expertise involved in the development becomes central. Branded companies are mainly focused on proprietary development 

while independents may indulge in open source development. The second issue is cloud computing trio-factor of reliability, stability, and scalability. Here, branded companies have a slight edge over independent service providers. This is because they have a company image to project and protect. Furthermore, they are likely to have amassed greater resources for the provision of cloud computing services. Take, for example, a cloud computing company like cloud services Microsoft. Years of success within the computing sector have left it with a brand name worth protecting, and vast resources to do so. This means that when investing in the infrastructure, they have access to systems which have more capacity and reliability. This results in a cloud infrastructure that is more stable and extremely reliable. Furthermore, since they are investing with a forward view, they are likely to provide room for growth. This enables easy upward scaling of services. Hence, branded businesses are better placed in handling an emerging technology than independent providers due to the experience and understanding of the field. 

The third issue to check is their record of accomplishment within the cloud computing sector. Good companies as cloud services Microsoft have an excellent reputation of service delivery. This is also enhanced by the goodwill that has been generated over years of excellent computing service delivery. In conclusion, the choice should hinge on the services needed by the company. The lack of clear favorites is not a disservice to the business sector.

Which is better: public or private cloud services?

There is now access to the public and private cloud services for the average consumer. The problem is that most users don’t know how to compare these two in deciding. The lack of information in a simplified and easily accessible manner leads to increased levels of confusion amongst the public. This makes them likelier to end up with a wrong decision and later regretting it. Here, we analyze these two solutions to help you choose.

One, what are the costs of these solutions? Private cloud solution is charged at premium rates. These rates are proportional to actual use and are levied on a monthly or yearly basis. The model used is pay per use which enables the user to determine how much they intend to use within a set time. There is a common misconception that public cloud services are free. While there are no external subscription fees charged to the users, there are indirect costs of using these solutions. Limitations in functionality, scalability, and reliability can be viewed as indirect costs. On the subject of costs, public cloud solutions are better for individual use while private clouds are better for businesses.

Two, what are the limitations of the solutions? Public cloud services are extremely limited in terms of the functionality, access, scalability, reliability provided to the user. Functionality is usually reduced to basic and generic functions to make them cheaper to deploy. Access is limited by the whims of the service provider since there is no contractual obligation to provide service. Scalability and reliability are limited by the lowered rate of investment in the cloud infrastructure. Private cloud services have their limitations provided by the contract. This means that the user can reduce them as per their perceived need.

Three, which solution is easier to use? The ease of use of cloud solutions has been a crucial decision point in recent times. Public cloud services are the easiest to use. Their public deployment means that developers need to make systems which can be used by anyone. However, the real reason they are easy to use is that they are simple in terms of the service they offer. The generic and low levels of cloud services are easier to use. Private cloud solutions can be complex; however, this has been addressed through the use of managed hosting.

When making a decision between either solution, the underlying factor for you must be based on what you need the cloud solution for.

Why hire SAAS for your business?

Application services, more commonly referred to as Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), are a form of computing where software and data hosted on a cloud are provided to end users by a Cloud Solutions Provider. They rely on the use of a ‘thin client’ which is a computer or web based application that in turn relies on a server to carry out its computational functions. The server is far more powerful than the thin client, and this allows it to process tasks that are either too complex or demanding for the thin client.

An example of this is computer terminals for e-resource access in public libraries. The data by a public library is huge and access of such can be a problem, much akin to data stored on the cloud. All the data that is stored on the cloud is structurally labelled for easy access and retrieval.

A cloud solutions provider or application service provider (ASP) provides applications, software, hardware and data storage for you. These services are mainly provided on a pay per use subscription basis, which lowers the cost for you. The administration of the IT resources and provision of data is provided by the application service provider.

The business model for application services utilises remote hosting of software services to be provided through a shared network, most commonly the internet, by use of client applications. The network of access can also be a private data centre with a locked network. You pay for the application services that you intend to use on a need basis in either the form of a regular subscription or pay as you go payment plan with the application service provider.

The advantages of such a system are:

1. SaaS allows for configuration of the program parameters by you to tailor make a customized functio0nality of the software service acquired. This operates much like conventional software customization which allows for the selection of the particular facets of an application useful to you.

2. SaaS applications are easily updated and maintained as they are hosted centrally by the ASP. Furthermore, because they are pooled resources, it ensures cross compatibility of data forms across users allowing for easier data sharing.

3. It allows for easier collaboration both within a company and across the users. Additional features such as online social networking functionality enhance this feature.

4. It eliminates costs incurred in software acquisition and maintenance. Furthermore, when properly implemented, it can not only reduce but also eliminate the need for support and administrative personnel.

5. ASP’s serve many clients upping the need for proper security and data protection.