Cloud Computing Platforms are engines of growth
With more technological advancements, cloud computing platforms offer a wide range of services, from primary storage and computing power to more specialized tools for data analysis and machine learning. They are commonly used by businesses and organizations to host their websites and applications, store and process their data, and provide their employees with remote access to company resources.
You may wonder… what are cloud computing platforms?
Cloud computing platforms and services allow users to access and use computing resources, such as servers, storage, and applications, over the internet. These platforms provide users with a scalable and flexible way to manage and process their data without the need for expensive hardware or IT infrastructure.
These platforms are primarily used by IT administrators and development teams, although the entire business relies on the storage and security of the cloud environment operated by the platform provider. Cloud computing platforms consist of different stacks of cloud services (IaaS, PaaS, and DBaaS) that provide complementary functionality.
An interesting fact
In 2021, 56 percent of respondents stated that they are using Microsoft Azure for their cloud services. Amazon Web Services (AWS) was on top of the list until 2020, when Microsoft took the place. Additionally, the percentage of respondents not using any form of cloud rose to eight percent in 2022 from four percent in 2021.
- Statista
Companies use these stacks in order to reduce their upfront capital expenditure and efficiently track and manage costs. It also helps them to streamline their application development process, enable them to scale horizontally, and store and access company data. In short, the company uses and pays for only those services that are needed.
How can cloud computing platforms help businesses?
Cloud computing has become an essential part of modern business operations. It allows companies to access powerful computing resources without investing in expensive hardware and infrastructure. This means that you have lesser upfront capital and operating costs.
This also frees up IT and software engineering resources. This provides an opportunity for the firm to judiciously use resources for strategic initiatives. By doing so, businesses can achieve lower time to market and time to revenue for a product.
What are the best examples of cloud computing platforms?
This article will highlight five cloud computing platforms that businesses should consider.
Credits: Statista
1. Amazon Web Services (AWS):
AWS is one of the most popular cloud computing platforms on the market. It offers a wide range of services, including storage, databases, analytics, machine learning, and more. AWS is known for its reliability, scalability, and flexibility, making it an excellent choice for businesses of all sizes.
2. Microsoft Azure:
Azure is Microsoft’s cloud computing platform. It offers a similar range of services to AWS, including storage, databases, analytics, and machine learning. Azure is an excellent option for businesses that use Microsoft products, as it offers seamless integration with other Microsoft services.
3. Google Cloud Platform:
Google Cloud Platform is Google’s cloud computing offering. It offers a wide range of services, including storage, databases, analytics, and machine learning. Google Cloud is known for its strong focus on AI and data analytics, making it an excellent option for companies in these industries.
4. IBM Cloud:
IBM Cloud is a cloud computing platform that offers a wide range of services, including storage, databases, analytics, and AI. It is known for its reliable and trustable security and reliability. This makes it an excellent option for businesses in industries with strict compliance requirements.
5. Oracle Cloud:
Oracle Cloud is a cloud computing platform that offers a wide range of services, including storage, databases, analytics, and AI. It is known for its focus on performance and scalability. This makes it an excellent option for businesses requiring high computing power.
What are various pricing models for cloud computing platforms?
Cloud computing has become an essential part of modern business operations, allowing companies to access powerful computing resources without investing in expensive hardware and infrastructure.
However, it’s not easy to understand the pricing of cloud computing platforms, especially with so many platforms on the market. This article will highlight five standard pricing models for cloud computing platforms.
Below I am sharing the seven best pricing models followed in cloud computing platforms
1. Pay-as-you-go:
This is the most common pricing model for cloud computing platforms. With this model, you only pay for the specific services you use. This allows you to scale your usage up or down as needed, making it a flexible and cost-effective option.
2. Flat rate:
With this pricing model, you pay a fixed monthly or annual fee for a specific computing resource. This is a good option for businesses with predictable and uniform computing needs.
3. Usage-based:
With this pricing model, you pay for the specific computing resources you use, such as storage or data transfer. This can be cost-effective for businesses with variable or unpredictable computing needs.
4. Tiered:
This pricing model offers different levels of service at various price points. For example, a cloud computing platform may provide a basic level of service at a lower price and more advanced service at higher prices. This allows businesses to choose the level of service that best meets their needs.
5. Subscription:
With this pricing model, businesses pay a monthly or annual subscription fee to access a cloud computing platform’s services. This can be a cost-effective option for businesses needing a consistent computing resource level.
6. Reserved instance based:
A reserved instance-based pricing model is a pricing model for cloud computing platforms in which businesses pay a one-time upfront fee to reserve a certain amount of computing resources for a specific period. This allows companies to save money by committing to a longer-term usage of the cloud computing platform’s services.
Understandably, businesses with predictable and consistent computing needs often use the reserved instance, pricing model. It can provide cost savings compared to the pay-as-you-go pricing model, which charges for the exact amount of computing resources used per hour or per minute.
7. License based:
A license-based pricing model is a pricing model for cloud computing platforms in which businesses pay a fee to license specific software applications or tools. This allows companies to use the software on the cloud computing platform without purchasing and installing it on their own computers.
The license-based pricing model is often used for software applications that are too complex or expensive for businesses to install and maintain independently. It can provide cost savings compared to purchasing the software outright, as companies only pay for the specific applications they need and can scale their usage up or down as needed.
Should you use cloud computing platforms?
The answer is that it depends! We will highlight a few reasons why your business should consider using cloud computing platforms and a few other reasons and challenges you should consider before adopting cloud computing platforms:
Let’s look at some benefits
1. Flexibility: One of the biggest advantages of cloud computing platforms is their flexibility. With a cloud computing platform, your business can access a wide range of computing resources, including storage, databases, analytics, and more, without having to invest in expensive hardware and infrastructure. This allows you to scale your usage up or down as needed, providing your business with the flexibility it needs to grow and adapt to changing conditions.
2. Scalability: Another benefit of using such platforms is the ability to easily scale up or down as needed. With the cloud, businesses can quickly and easily increase or decrease their computing resources to meet changing business needs. This allows businesses to be agile and adapt to new opportunities or challenges without having to invest in additional hardware or infrastructure.
3. Accessibility: Another advantage of cloud computing platforms is that they allow businesses to access their data and applications from anywhere with an internet connection. This makes it easier for businesses to collaborate and work remotely, improving flexibility and productivity.
4. Cost savings: Another benefit of cloud computing platforms is their potential to save your business money. With a cloud computing platform, you only pay for the specific services you use, which can be more cost-effective than purchasing and maintaining your own hardware and infrastructure. Additionally, many cloud computing platforms offer a pay-as-you-go pricing model, which allows you to only pay for the computing resources you need when you need them.
However, the benefit of cost savings has always invited polarized views from the industry
5. Improved security: Many businesses are concerned about the security of their data and with good reason. However, cloud computing platforms can actually improve the security of your business’s data. Because cloud computing platforms are managed by experts, they often have advanced security measures in place to protect your data. Additionally, with a cloud computing platform, your data is stored in multiple locations, which can help prevent data loss in the event of a natural disaster or other catastrophic events.
6. Increased collaboration: Cloud computing platforms can also improve collaboration within your business. With a cloud computing platform, your employees can access the same data and applications from anywhere, at any time, which can help them work more efficiently and effectively. This can be particularly useful for businesses with remote workers or multiple locations.
But, there are some challenges too
However, there are also some potential drawbacks to using cloud computing platforms. One concern is security, as businesses are relying on a third-party provider to keep their data safe. While most cloud computing platforms have robust security measures in place, there is always some level of risk involved.
Another potential drawback is the potential loss of control over your data. When you use a cloud computing platform, your data is stored on the provider’s servers, which means you are reliant on the provider to keep it accessible and secure. your business could be impacted if the provider experiences a disruption or outage.
Conclusion
Overall, there are many excellent cloud computing platforms on the market. The right platform for your business will depend on your specific needs and requirements. By choosing a platform that offers the services you need, you can ensure that your business has the computing power and resources it needs to be successful.
I hope you enjoyed this article, and do check other related articles. Your personal experience may totally differ and I welcome such views too. Do let me know your thoughts and ideas in the comment section below. For more such content subscribe to my monthly newsletter covering such interesting topics
