When we talk about “the cloud” we simply refer to the Internet. For its part, “cloud computing” is a way of running computer programs in which some of the work is done on external servers, rather than entirely on the user’s computer. It is a relatively new and growing trend. Currently, we can have word processors, spreadsheets, image editors, or file storage “in the cloud,” etc… . The user accesses these applications (called “services”) through an Internet connection.
Of course, “cloud computing” is not intended to completely replace the conventional way of running programs, as it has the disadvantage of having to constantly send and receive data from the cloud. However, it has many advantages that make both complement each other.
Among its advantages are the following:
- Mobility. You can access your data from any computer with a network connection, and even through a 3G device.
- Compatibility. The services work through the web browser, so it doesn’t matter if you use Windows, Mac, Linux, or a portable device.
- Lower requirements. By moving the processing load to an external server, the user needs a less powerful device, allowing the use of smaller devices with longer battery life.
- Security. Data exchange is done through encrypted connections, preventing them from being intercepted. In addition, the data is not stored on the user’s computer, protecting them from possible viruses or information theft. Backup. External servers make their own backups, so it is almost impossible for them to be accidentally deleted, or due to your computer breaking.
- Sharing. It is very easy to share files with the people you choose.
- Collaboration. In many web applications, multiple users are allowed to work on the same document simultaneously, which is not possible with the traditional way of execution.