You can’t have a conversation about modern IT without talking about cloud environments.
According to the “2022 Cloud Computing” study by Foundry (formerly IDG Communications), “69% of companies have accelerated their cloud migration over the past twelve months, and the percentage of companies with most or all IT infrastructure in the cloud is expected to leap from 41% today to 63% in the next eighteen months” (source).
But what exactly is a cloud?
A cloud is used to store and manage data in a way that lets you access it via the internet.
In a traditional network, you own the space you use (i.e., a physical backup drive or server on-premises). With cloud computing, however, you rent that space, paying a monthly or yearly fee for access.
You’re probably already connected to a cloud through apps like Dropbox, Gmail, Instagram, TurboTax, Canva, Evernote, LinkedIn . . .
Benefits
Businesses like yours choose cloud computing because of the benefits, including:
- Lower cost. With traditional networks, the larger your business, the more equipment you need. Cloud computing removes much of that, reducing the cost for data storage, backup servers, and software upgrades. In fact, a 2019 article in InfoWorld estimated a savings of anywhere from 25–75% over traditional networks, especially when it came to backup systems (source).
- Scalability. The cloud grows as your company grows, with no need for additional hardware or software. Cloud providers can easily and quickly increase services that are critical to your company’s performance, like storage capacity, power, and speed.
- Disaster recovery. Because your data is stored off-site and virtually, it’s always safe from both natural disasters (e.g., tornadoes, floods, and fires) and manmade disasters (e.g., ransomware attacks, hardware failures, and human error).
- Automation. System updates, security patches, service packs, and data backups are performed automatically, keeping your hardware and/or software up to date and, therefore, more secure.
Hybrid Cloud Computing
Not every company is able to move to full cloud computing. For example, if your business wants to keep its file server on-site; if your network uses legacy applications; or if you need to keep Active Directory domain controllers on-site so your staff are always able to log in using credentials.
Situations like these are why hybrid cloud environments were created.
A hybrid cloud environment keeps part of the network on-site and the other part off-site—i.e., in the cloud. This hybridization allows users to share data and applications securely and on-demand without going fully to public cloud usage.
Your network is the first half of the equation—the private cloud.
For the other half, you need to link to a public cloud.
WYRE Cloud Recommendations
WYRE works with two public cloud providers that offer a wide range of features while truly standing up to the demands of businesses.
- Azure. Azure is part of the Microsoft family. In our experience, this is the public cloud service that integrates best with most mature small, medium, and enterprise businesses—especially if those businesses already rely on Microsoft infrastructure (Windows, Office, Server, SQL, etc.). Azure’s cloud-based services include application development, computation, integration, database services, data and analytics, IoT, networking, mobile, and cybersecurity (source).
- Amazon Web Services. AWS is often preferred by businesses looking for a non-Microsoft option, especially web, software, and mobile application startups. AWS “offers a broad set of global cloud-based products, including compute [computation], storage, databases, analytics, networking, mobile, developer tools, management tools, IoT, security, and enterprise applications” (source).
You can see why WYRE has chosen to partner with Azure and AWS specifically—they offer everything businesses need to stay current, productive, and secure in a hybrid cloud environment.
In fact, AWS includes companies like Moderna, Siemens, Sony, GE, and Johnson & Johnson on its roster (source). And Azure is used by Walmart, Daimler, Walgreens, SEGA, and HCA Healthcare (source).
Is Cloud Computing Right for You?
Cloud and hybrid cloud environments allow your business to expand its borders and increase its capabilities with less cost, better efficiency, and more control.
WYRE can help you stay ahead of the technology curve, putting our extensive cloud experience to work for you. Whether you're in Nashville, TN, or anywhere else in the world, we'd love to work with you!