Are You Unknowingly Using the Cloud?
It seems like the cloud is shrouded in a cloak of mystery. It’s such an intangible thing that users often feel intimidated by it. What most people don’t know, however, is that they’re probably already using a cloud in some capacity within their daily lives. Once you realize how commonplace the cloud really is, it doesn’t seem so mysterious, does it?
1. Socially. Are you a serial Pinterest user? Can we find you up at night pinning home decor or DIY project ideas? Whenever you pin something that catches your eye, you’re doing so on a website that is totally cloud-based. Ever upload a photo to Flickr? That’s a cloud, too! Instead of saving the 1,000+ photos of your family vacation to your local computer, you can upload them to Flickr — the cloud — and access them from anywhere.
2. Collaboration. Communicating with the folks you work with on a daily basis needs to be smooth, streamlined, and effective. If you’ve used document sharing services like Google Docs, SkyDrive, or even Google Bookmarks, you’re utilizing a cloud-based service. Being able to communicate with your team in real-time is invaluable, and the cloud allows you to stay connected when you need it most.
3. Entertainment. When you work hard, you have to play hard. Sometimes it’s nice to just kick back and relax, right? If you’re watching a movie or television show via Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime, you’re using a cloud application. They’ve stored all of your favorite flicks on their servers, and bring them to you through the cloud. Want to stream some music? Websites like Pandora use cloud technology to bring you songs based on your previous listening history.
4. Storage. Nowadays, people are beginning to hang on to electronic files in a similar fashion to their physical possessions. You captured your baby’s first year in photos just like your parents did,, but instead of printing out each photograph, you’ve stored them electronically. Now you need to find a place for safe keeping. To the cloud you go! Utilizing storage services like Dropbox, Google Drive, or Box frees up space on your local computer while giving you the flexibility to access your files from any location.
5. Communication. One of the simplest ways that most people use the cloud is through web-based email. Most web based email programs, such as Hotmail (now Outlook), Gmail and Yahoo Mail, are a form of cloud computing. Your emails are not stored on any local device — all of your data is on a server in the cloud. Skype also makes use of the cloud so that its millions of users can connect via video chat.
Bonus! 6. Software Hosting. Businesses of all sizes are finding that they need to utilize the benefits of the cloud to boost efficiency and improve communication. Hosting your accounting, community management, or construction software in the cloud gives you the ability to access your software from anywhere — even a smartphone or tablet. Try out your fully-featured cloud for 30 days.