I come from a humble background, and last year I decided to open a small digital marketing agency after graduating from college. Even though I had planned everything, I couldn’t decide on how to get the required digital marketing tools.
I had two options. Either I could choose cloud-based tools, or stick to the tested approach of creating my digital marketing tools.
Both options had its pros and cons, for instance, I wasn’t sure about cloud-based tools as I never used them before. And, as I had almost consumed all my savings in establishing my company, I had no resources to create my tools.
So, I took a leap of faith and chose cloud-based tools, and to date, I consider this as the best business decision I made till now.
Around 94% of businesses globally use cloud services, and if you’re not one of them, then trust me, you’re missing out. Below, I’m going to explain cloud solutions, and how they’re better than in-house IT services.
So, if you want to learn more about the cloud solutions, then read on.
What are Cloud Solutions?
Cloud solutions consist of tools, applications, infrastructure, software, and other resources, developed and offered by a third-party provider. Generally, cloud solutions follow a “subscription model”, and once their needs end, businesses can cancel their cloud subscription.
Also, like in-house IT tools which businesses have to manage themselves, the service providers are responsible for cloud service’s maintenance and upgradation.
However, there are a few factors every company should keep in mind before using the cloud solutions, such as:
- Companies should keep their existing data practices and IT infrastructure in mind, as it is significantly important for a seamless migration to cloud services.
- Some cloud solutions may be available offline, but to access their full features, you must be equipped with high-speed internet. As for me, I use Spectrum Internet to access cloud solutions. Not once did the cloud apps become ineffective on such a reliable connection.
- Keep in mind that some cloud solutions may only work with high-end systems. So, make sure your work devices are capable of running cloud solutions effectively.
- Make sure you train your employees to use the cloud solutions, as some tools or apps may have a steep learning curve.
- Although it’s rare, you should have an action plan in place in case the cloud tools or apps are attacked by cybercriminals.
Moving on, let’s explore the types of cloud solutions.
Types of Cloud Solutions
Based on how cloud solutions are used, they’re divided into three categories. The table below shows the types of cloud solutions:
| Aspects | SaaS (Software-as-a-Solution) | PaaS (Platform-as-a-Solution) | IaaS (Infrastructure-as-a-Solution) |
| Definition | SaaS includes cloud-based tools, apps, software, and other resources. | PaaS eliminates the need to maintain servers, in-house IT infrastructure, databases, or operating systems | IaaS offers an entire infrastructure, like data centers, servers, cloud storage, or networks for businesses to manage their operations remotely. |
| Usage | It mostly offers cloud-based tools, apps, software, and other resources. | It is generally used by developers who want to access cloud-based applications without maintaining or upgrading them. | It is mostly used by businesses that cannot afford in-house data centers, or develop a vast IT infrastructure. |
| Examples | Asana, Microsoft Office 365, and Trello are common SaaS tools and apps. | Microsoft Azure, SAP Cloud, and Google App Engine are famous examples of PaaS | Puppet, Ansible, and Jenkins, are the common examples of IaaS tools and software. |
Moving on, let’s explore how cloud solutions fare against in-house IT services.
Difference Between Cloud Services and In-House IT Services
The below table explains the major differences between cloud and in-house IT services:
| Aspects | Cloud Solutions | In-House IT Services |
| Cost | Companies only need to pay the subscription price of cloud tools and apps. However, cloud solutions may cost more if you invest in high-end devices before using them. | In-house IT solutions are usually expensive as businesses create them from scratch. Also, they may need to regularly update, maintain, and perform security checks for in-house services. |
| Deployment | Cloud solutions are hosted by the service provider and businesses can access them online at any time. | Services are deployed on the business’s infrastructure such as hardware devices. |
| Maintenance | Service providers are responsible for maintenance and upgradation of cloud tools. | Businesses themselves manage, maintain, and update the in-house tools. |
| Control | Businesses have limited control over cloud solutions they use. | Companies have full control over their IT solutions and services. |
| Data Security | Service providers ensure that the cloud tools and apps are secured by extensive security measures. | Businesses are responsible for data security on in-house IT services. |
| Scalability | Businesses can simply subscribe to another plan to access better cloud tools and apps.
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When expanding, companies may need to invest more resources in their current IT infrastructure to keep up with their demands. |
Before winding up, let’s see how cloud solutions can be a game changer for your business.
Advantages of Using Cloud Solutions:
Although there are countless benefits of using cloud solutions, I’m only going to mention the most significant ones below:
Lower Cost
As I mentioned above, cloud solutions follow a subscription-based model. It indicates that businesses do not need to spend time or resources on developing their tools and apps. On the contrary, businesses can easily avail those IT solutions and services from a cloud provider and use them for as long as they need their services.
No Maintenance
When companies develop and use their tools, they’re responsible for maintaining and upgrading them. But in the case of cloud solutions, businesses do not own the tools and hence, are not responsible for maintaining them.
Highly Scalable
With cloud solutions, businesses do not have to invest their time or resources in tools or apps to support their expansion. They can simply increase their computing power by subscribing to a high-end cloud solution plan and continue to enjoy similar services at a larger scale.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What are some famous CRM cloud tools?
Salesforce, HubSpot, and Zendesk are some of the top cloud-based CRM tools.
Do all cloud-based tools have a steep learning curve?
No, while some cloud tools can be challenging to learn, most tools are easy to understand and navigate around.
Do cloud apps secure our data?
Yes, cloud apps take extensive security measures like encryption, API security, and a zero-trust security model to protect our data.
