From providing productivity tools such as calendars, email and conferencing to complex applications that run projects that are based on data, cloud-based data services are revolutionizing the way businesses work. They ease the burden of maintaining internal infrastructure, updating operating software and systems, as well as decommissioning or disposing of hardware and software that becomes obsolete. They also offer access to the most specialized resources and skills that are difficult for smaller companies to manage or cloud data services afford.
The most popular type of cloud-based data services is Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS). IaaS providers offer VM instances storage, application programming interfaces to let customers migrate and host production workloads in the cloud. IaaS is typically delivered as a pay-as -you-go subscription to cut down on initial costs and enable IT to scale up capacity when needed.
Other types of cloud data services include database-as-a-service. This allows organizations to store and retrieve large amounts of structured data at a low latency. Some vendors also provide real-time storage for data that can meet millisecond response time. Examples include Amazon DynamoDB and Google Bigtable that can be used as high-performance in-process database for data processing applications.
The cloud can also make it easier to collaborate remotely and access work files across multiple devices. For instance, many businesses depend on SaaS tools such as Google Docs or Microsoft 365 for sharing presentations and documents. They can also use a cloud-based video conferencing solution like Zoom to connect with clients and employees from various locations.
