Got a question? Call 1800 853 276 | Login
Cloud computing has skyrocketed in recent years, with 42% of Australian businesses now using some form of paid cloud computing.
What is cloud computing?
Cloud computing refers to the practice of delivering computing services, such as storage, processing power, databases, networking, analytics, and software, over the internet.
What are the types of cloud computing?
There are three types of cloud computing:
Public Cloud: In a public cloud, computing resources are owned and operated by a third-party cloud service provider. These resources, such as virtual machines, storage, and applications, are shared among multiple organisations and users. Public clouds offer scalability, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness, making them suitable for businesses with varying workloads and resource needs. Examples of public cloud service providers include Amazon Web Services (AWS), Vault Cloud, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform (GCP).
Private Cloud: This is a cloud infrastructure exclusively dedicated to a single organisation. It can be physically located on-premises in the organization's data center or hosted by a third-party provider. Private clouds offer greater control, customization, and data protection, making them ideal for industries with strict regulatory compliance requirements or organizations with specific performance and security concerns.
Hybrid cloud: A hybrid cloud combines both public and private cloud environments, allowing data and applications to be shared between them. This provides greater flexibility and optimization of resources, as organizations can use public cloud resources for scalable and less-sensitive workloads, while keeping critical or sensitive data in the private cloud.
The practice is considered an important among 78% of “innovative businesses”, with large firms of 200 or more employees being its keenest adopters. Such services contribute billions to the economy (set to hit $10.3 billion by 2022), with plenty of corporate benefits such as minimising costs, greater agility, and the ability to scale IT resources up and down as necessary.
If you’ve yet to make your move to the cloud, or are simply looking to update your services – here are 10 of the best cloud platforms popular among Australian businesses.
Microsoft
Also dubbed the “commercial cloud”, Microsoft’s cloud services encompass a larger range of related products – including Azure, Office 365 (enterprise subscriptions), Dynamics 365, and LinkedIn services. Their focus on AI, the Internet of Things (IoT), and analytics ensure an innovative and streamlined user experience; with flexible solutions to suit businesses of all industries.
Users are able to run any service on their cloud, with the ability to combine it with any existing infrastructure, applications, or data centres.
Azure’s Migration Centre also provide efficient, high-speed cloud transfers – and is compatible with Linux.
Lastly, the platform offers a convenient “pay as you go” billing system, allowing users to tailor each cloud plan to their specific needs.
Google Cloud Platform
Google’s cloud platform offers a user-friendly interface for any business, allowing them to build products and solutions using Google-based web services.
They provide enterprise-grade security, with a multi-layer setup to ensure total protection. Their variety of available tools – such as the App Engine, Cloud Storage, Big Query, and Compute Engine – allow efficient management and storage of cloud-based data.
Among these features is a smooth migration process to virtual servers, helping you free up local space quickly and effortlessly.
The platform currently earns an annual revenue rate of $8 billion, with recent strides toward business-focused services.
Oracle
Oracle offers businesses with a comprehensive package of cloud applications and platform services, and are known for their support of varying workloads and software – including those related to IoT, Online Transactional Processing (OLTP), and programs relying on AI and machine learning.
Their cloud architecture also include databases, applications, and data management, while their Oracle Data Cloud focuses on big data analytics for business and marketing insights.
With their wide range of high-level services, Oracle is best suited for large enterprises; rather than small businesses or personal use.
They also pride in offering multi-layered security, with flexible billing solutions (and always-free features).
Amazon Web Services
Amazon Web Services (AWS) is widely regarded for its extensive range of both personal and business cloud solutions. The platform offers both IaaS and PaaS services, including Simple Storage Service (S3), Relational Database Service (RDS), and Elastic Cloud Compute (EC2).
Their cloud services also allow users to customize infrastructure according to specific business requirements. Their flexible, scalable features allow for greater agility, reducing the need for planning servers and IT resources far in advance.
This flexibility also extends to their pricing models, with three different options tailored to your financial needs: “Pay-as-you-Go”, “Pay less using more”, and “Save when you reserve”.
CloudSigma
CloudSigma is another cloud services provider with attractive scalable options, allowing users to select operating system and server specifications according to their business requirements. They also pride in their high-speed cloud performance, with various storage settings and applications to choose from.
The platform also assists with Hybrid Cloud Hosting, helping customers balance workloads between private and public cloud infrastructure. This is done in partnership with Equinix (another leading company in digital business solutions), offering users with dedicated on-premise and public cloud storage.
Additionally, CloudSigma offers multi-layered authentication, high-level security management and data encryption, ensuring safety of everything you build, code, and store.
Egnyte
Egnyte offers cloud solutions specifically tailored for businesses – providing comprehensive file management and robust security.
Its quality file support allow users to store applications and multimedia content of any size, with options for data-sharing among remote users. Their Egnyte Connect Desktop App also allows one to access their cloud files on desktop, with an option to sync specific folders for offline access. Those on a mobile device can also access and share files through the Egnyte Mobile App.
Additionally, the platform allows business managers to monitor employee usage and activity on cloud files – all in real-time.
Users can also rest easy with their data security, as Egnyte allows for “granular permissions” across its files; with options to deny or modify access at any level of the folder hierarchy.
Alibaba Cloud
Alibaba provides both businesses and individuals with a wide range of cloud features, including content delivery network (CDN) solutions; and database, analytics, and application platform services.
It’s cloud-based security tool, Anti-DDoS Basic, also helps safeguard data and applications from network attacks. The platform additionally offers users with full supervision and control over their security measures, with other services such as Mobile Security and Web Application Firewall.
Alibaba also provides hybrid cloud capabilities, with efficiency powered by their computational engine, Aspara.
Those canvassing for their ideal cloud provider can make use of their free trial for 16 of Alibaba’s products – with another 20 advertised as “always free”.
Chargify
Chargify prides in their ability to offer effortless, streamlined billing solutions for software-as-a-service (SaaS) companies; allowing them to focus on productivity and operations, rather than their payment systems.
The platform provides world-leading tools that organise your subscriptions and customers – down to each transaction and component used. Other billing tasks, such as sending out refunds, logging external payments (in cash or check), or e-mailing customers on their payment details can also be done straight from the Chargify platform.
Additionally, users can keep updated on their sales statistics, displayed through Chargify’s dashboard; with further trends and patterns revealed on the “Analytics” tab.
Adoption of Chargify’s services allow companies to focus on what matters most in their business, while keeping their digital payments systemised and easy to track.
Cloud Linux
Cloud Linux stands out from other providers in its ability to offer users with total network flexibility. Rather than offering a typical third-party experience, the service allows one to host their own cloud platform, building it across their own servers.
Though it takes more effort to set up, users have tighter control over their cloud resources – beneficial for companies who heavily invest in their own IT infrastructure.
The platform also leverages LVE (LightWeight Virtual Environment) to isolate each tenant with their own limited, allocated server resources; ensuring the activity of one account doesn’t impact the service for others.
IBM
Finally, we have IBM. An industry giant of the last century, the company offers IT users with generous cloud computing services that include PaaS, infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS), and SaaS.
The service ensures that clients have sole access to their provided server and complete control over their infrastructure. Such customisable options allow users to build their servers according to specific business needs, and ensure they only pay for those they intend to use.
The platform also features advanced analytics, tracking and assessment of computing resource usage, and offers insight into the cost implications of physical and virtual IT assets.
Reap the business benefits of cloud computing
Storage, performance, and data security – each are a top priority in any business. Cloud computing boosts these aspects of your business through secure, digital backups of sensitive information; relief of local resources; enhanced worker collaboration, and more.
Our comprehensive training programs in wide range of cloud computing platforms – including Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud. You can also learn the fundamentals of cloud management and big data; with courses tailored to specialised career paths such as cloud development and cloud architecture.
Keep your business current and IT skills up-to-date, and enquire with us or check out our Cloud Courses here.
