Well, if you live in rainy Vancouver, or in Belgium for that matter, you might ask yourself this question on a regular basis... but (insert clever segue here) let’s not talk about the weather in this article, instead, let’s talk about “The Cloud”, a tech buzzword that has infiltrated our vocabulary for the last few years. In this article, we will go over what the cloud is, and what it can do for you at home and at work.

What is the cloud?

Just like “Web 2.0” in the mid-2000s, “the cloud” is definitely the buzzword of choice for the last few years, but behind the hype the cloud has a lot to offer to consumers and businesses of all sizes.

So, what is “the cloud”? Well, the cloud is simply a metaphor for the Internet in the context of cloud computing. That’s all there is to it. I hope you found this article useful, and next week we will talk about... alright alright... So, what is cloud computing then? Cloud computing can be described as Internet-based computing where the software, data, and other resources are not located on your desktop computer, but on servers connected to the Internet and managed by a service provider. Your computer or device is only used to access the cloud-based service, on demand, via an Internet connection. Do you have a Google Gmail, a Yahoo Mail, or a Microsoft Hotmail account? If the answer is yes, then you are already using cloud computing.

Why would you care about cloud computing at home?

With the increasing amount of computers and electronic devices we use in our daily lives, it is sometimes complicated to access our data, especially if it is stored across multiple devices. Where is the most up-to-date version of that important document? On your laptop? On one of your nine USB flash drives? On your tablet or smartphone? On the family-shared desktop computer infected by viruses and malware? By storing your data on the Internet - in the cloud - you can access that important document from any device connected to the Internet (desktop computer, laptop, tablet, smartphone, etc.). To continue with the example of a document, when you work on that document, you don’t actually download it on the device you are currently using and then work on it, you are actually working on the document stored in the cloud. It is also easier to share that important document with anyone when needed, as it is always accessible via the Internet.

One of the layers of cloud computing is an Internet-based application, also refereed to as “Software as a Service” (SaaS). A well known SaaS is Gmail or Yahoo Mail; unlike Microsoft Outlook or Mozilla Thunderbird, you do not need to install a dedicated software on your desktop computer to access, send, or receive emails in your Gmail account - all you need is a web browser. Also, as the application is not stored on your local computer, it is easier for the cloud-based service providers to seamlessly push updates to their web application on a regular basis, without you having to download and install the latest software update.

Most services will have a mobile version of their web application making it really easy to access your data when you are on the go. Sure, accessing the cloud-based service via a mobile phone might have some limitations, but it is still pretty handy to have your documents, calendar, music, movies, etc. in your pocket.

In a previous article, I talked about online backup solutions. Remote file storage and online backup services are another great examples of the power of cloud computing services.

At the end of this article, you will find a list of cloud-based services including office suites, music streaming services, image editing apps, movie streaming services, notetaking apps, etc.

Why would you care about cloud computing at work?

Of course the concept of accessing your data across various computers and devices applies in a business environment as well, but cloud computing has more to offer than that. A cloud-based service can help teams communicate and collaborate, even when everyone works out of different locations. It can offer a centralized place to store resources that are available to the entire team, which are accessible from anywhere via an Internet connection: share documents, calendars, and contacts; exchange ideas and provide feedback in real-time; etc. One of the key advantages of cloud computing is that small businesses can have access to modern technology, without having to invest huge amount of resources in purchasing and maintaining expensive software and hardware infrastructure. With cloud computing, a business just pays based on its usage: the service scales on demand in function of what the business requirements are at any given time. For larger organizations where the size of the IT infrastructure is significant, other layers of cloud computing like Infrastructure (or Hardware) as a Service, and Platform (or Framework) as a Service can be used to reduce IT cost and capital expenditure, but this falls outside the scope of this article, and let’s face it... it sounds pretty boring too, so I won’t elaborate on that.

Is using the cloud expensive?

Well, actually not really. A fair amount of cloud-based services are using a freemium business model that works by offering a basic service free of charge, while charging a premium for advanced features, functionality, or related services. A good example of this is Google and its various free web applications (Gmail, Google Docs, Google Calendar, etc.) which are a great alternative to the more expensive Microsoft Office suite. For small businesses and large organizations, Google offers similar paid-services with added functionality. Same idea for online storage services like Box and Dropbox who offer free accounts with just a few gigs of storage space, which is still plenty of space for a casual user. Needless to say that you can get a lot out of the cloud, without spending anything or very little.

Are there any risks?

Of course cloud computing is not perfect. Service availability, data security, etc. are areas where cloud computing can be source of issues. With all these cloud-based services depending on an Internet connection in order to access them, what happens when you don’t have Internet access? Or what happens if the service experiences downtime? Well, depending on the services you are using, you might have the option to work or access your content even when you are offline, sometimes with a limited amount of functionality. For example, Gmail (Google Apps version) offers a “Offline Gmail” feature. With this feature enabled, you can access and work on your emails even when you don’t have an Internet connection (compose messages, search, and organize emails). The next time you are connected, the updates you made on the local copy of your Gmail data will be pushed to the online version stored in the cloud. For music streaming services, like Rdio, you have the option to “download” your music on portable devices for offline listening. But you have to be aware that not all cloud-based services will have an offline functionality, and in some cases, you will be out of luck: no Internet connection, no access to your cloud.

The security of the data stored in the cloud is another potential risk. Most services implement strong security measures (encryption, etc.) and are generally secure against either accidental or malicious disclosure. But no matter how great the security measures implemented by the service provider are, they are only as good as the strength of the password you use for your user account. For cloud-based services, or any type of online account for that matter, the use of strong passwords is a must.

Is the cloud right for you?

Cloud computing is great, but not perfect, and it’s not for everyone. You should definitely be aware of the potential risks of cloud computing when you are considering a cloud-based solution, but I would argue that, in most cases, the advantages outweigh the risks. On one hand, if you have highly-sensitive data stored in the cloud or a mission-critical web application your business depends on, and you don’t have alternate plans in place in case your account gets compromised or the cloud goes down, well, needless to say that it is probably not the best case scenario, and you might want to consider other options. On the other hand, if you use the cloud wisely and in conjunction with your existing infrastructure, to improve it and extend it, then cloud computing can offer great solutions to various home and business needs. Don’t be shy, go check what the cloud can do for you...

Cloud-based services for home and small businesses

Here is a list of the most commonly known services. This is by far not meant to be an exhaustive list.

• Office suite: Google Apps, Google Docs, Google Calendar, Microsoft Office Web Apps.
• Email: Gmail, Yahoo Mail, Microsoft Windows Live Hotmail.
• File storage: Box, Dropbox, Flickr, Picasa Web Albums.
• Online backup: Mozy, Carbonite, SugarSync, CrashPlan.
• Creative suite: Aviary (image editor, vector editor, screen capture, music creator, etc.), Picnik (photo editing).
• Entertainment: Netflix, Rdio, Spotify (scheduled to launch in North America soon), MOG (U.S. only), Pandora (U.S. only).
• Social media: HootSuite, Seesmic Web.
• Miscellaneous: Evernote (notetaking), Zoho (email, docs, calendar, chat, meeting, CRM, etc.), Docs (Microsoft Office Docs for Facebook), MobileMe (email, calendar, contacts, file storage, online backup, etc.), Windows Live Mesh (file storage, file sync, remote access, etc.), Backupify (backup for your cloud data).

Videos

A series of videos explaining the benefits of various cloud computing services.

Google Docs in plain English

Box

Dropbox

Evernote

Mozy

SugarSync

This document was created and managed 100% with cloud computing technology: Google Docs was used to create and edit the article (across a desktop computer, a laptop, and a smartphone), while the Rdio music service and the Netflix mobile app were used to keep me entertained in the background.