Cloud computing, cloud software, cloud system, cloud applications - The word cloud is in many terms for applications and services that are executed between two different systems (client-side and server-side). Part of the data processing takes place on the user's local computer (client) and another part is executed server-side. Cloud computing includes, for example, Internet-based access to software, computing capacity or storage space.
Founders or even the teams of start-up companies have a lot on their agenda at the beginning of their business activity. Not every founder therefore has the opportunity to deal with the entire IT and IT security for their own company in addition to sales, marketing, production or trade. For start-up companies in particular, the use of cloud software can therefore offer special advantages. Some of these numerous advantages are considered below.
The scalability of IT services is one of the key advantages of cloud computing, as the infrastructure used by the start-up can be adapted quickly and often even automatically in the cloud. If the start-up is active in web-based e-commerce, for example, a sudden and unexpected increase in interest in the web store can overload a traditional server. This scenario is a disaster for any retail company if, of all things, customers are unable to access the web store when interest in the goods is particularly high. Using a scalable infrastructure in the cloud, failover systems can automatically step in if the host server is overloaded.
Likewise, additional users can usually be easily added to a cloud software license. In addition to the efficiency and flexibility of the cloud infrastructure, the pricing models of the cloud providers are also often designed in such a way that the prices are aligned with the demand for the service. Start-up companies then only pay for the server load actually used.
If the start-up uses a cloud system, the effort and therefore also the costs for operation and maintenance of IT resources in the own company are significantly lower. Of course, IT costs do not disappear completely, since client devices, the on-site Internet infrastructure, etc. also have to be administered in the company, but the effort involved is generally manageable. If an update or upgrade of the cloud software is necessary, this is usually carried out by the provider.
There are no investment costs for server hardware. The start-up company only incurs variable costs for the use of the server hardware or for the services of the cloud provider. These services include, for example, maintenance of the server-side equipment.
A particularly important advantage of cloud computing for start-up companies is the time, location and device-independent access to the software, data and information. The use of cloud software and cloud storage provides round-the-clock availability of all company data. Sharing and collaboration between employees is simple and straightforward, as documents, data, etc. can be changed in real time and all information is immediately available to everyone else through synchronization. But not only the time independence but also the location and device independence are a big advantage. Employees can also access data and work collaboratively from their home office or from otherwise distributed workspaces. Projects can be worked on flexibly by all team members.
A company's data and information should be secure at all times. It is precisely this information security that poses major challenges for many start-up companies. Cloud-based software, servers and data storage represent a significant increase in data security for companies. Cloud services are offered by providers with large and professionally secured data centers. Here, with appropriately trained personnel, external threats (IT attacks, power outages, etc.) can be responded to more quickly and effectively. Data storage in the cloud has many advantages. Among other things, automatic mirroring and backups can take place, the data is also safe from physical destruction within the company itself, and the cloud providers provide unlimited storage space, so to speak.
Cloud providers do not make software available to just one customer. Since the cloud software is usually used by many different customers, updates and upgrades can mostly be carried out quickly and cost-effectively. New releases are installed immediately and there is no need to wait for an available IT employee on site, as may be the case in start-up companies, or even to purchase new hardware because an update is no longer possible with the existing components.
Cloud computing offers start-up companies a wide range of possibilities with the greatest possible security, high flexibility and lower costs than when implemented in-house. The versatility of cloud technology means that virtually any start-up can benefit from it.