The pandemic set off a massive wave of businesses jumping online as means of staying afloat. That also meant a whole new wave of people trying to make sense of cloud computing. For many, it mostly boiled down to questions like, “What is the cloud?” or “What is cloud storage?”
For those who managed to get a handle on what the cloud is and some of the basic services, like cloud storage, a different question cropped up. Should I use something like cloud networking for business and personal needs?
If you’re still shaky on what cloud networking is, keep reading. We’ll break down the essentials so that you can decide if it’s right for you and your business.
What Is Networking?
Before diving into the cloud element, it can prove helpful to take a look at the basics of regular networking. Networking essentially means linking together computers and computer-adjacent devices so that you can share data, files, and even resources across them.
Of course, you need a way of managing these connections, which is where things like routers, switches, hubs, and all of that CAT6 cabling come into the picture.
These pieces of hardware ensure that data can get from your computer to, for example, the computer down two floors or that shared printer down the hall.
With that covered let’s look at cloud networks and cloud networking.
Cloud Networking
As with most things cloud-related, cloud networking primarily happens in data centers and on remote servers that you never actually see. All those hardware components that you normally see on site don’t really exist in cloud networking. Instead, you get a virtual version of things like routers, hubs, and switches that only exist on those servers.
Additionally, things like network security, network management, and firewalls also happen virtually on those servers. Depending on what service you use, you often get a choice about whether you keep an eye on those things in-house or allow the service to handle the lion’s share of that work.
Cloud Networking Benefits
Cloud networking offers several benefits, which is a big part of the reason that businesses and individuals like it.
For one, it negates the issue of hardware obsolescence. Since most of that hardware only exists virtually, the company can update it as needed. The lack of physical hardware can also simplify load balancing. You can head over here for more info on that.
You also get the benefits of on-demand scaling. You can expand your network or its resources without buying or configuring any additional hardware. You typically see improved reliability and security as well.
Cloud Networking and You
While many businesses and individuals will keep using physical networks, cloud networking will likely become the norm over time. Doing away with most of the physical hardware saves money and time.
On top of that, you get simpler scaling, better security, and solid reliability. It lets you keep or hand off things like network security, firewall management, and network management.
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