Back in October 2015 the world snorted with disdain as we realised this was the year Marty McFly arrived in the daring, hi-tech world of Back to the Future. Where are the flying cars? The self-lacing shoes? The dog-walking robots?
Even with massive leaps forward like Apple Pay and virtual reality simulation, we’re still all a little bit impatient when it comes to technology.
It’s easy to assume that tech hasn’t progressed the way we imagined when we were younger. But there have already been several tech advancements from the past decade that have completely altered traditional modes of working and living – and the most influential one is invisible.
What is the cloud revolution?
In 2013, the Guardian declared that ‘the cloud is driving a quiet revolution’.
Although you’ll no doubt have heard of the cloud by now, it still remains a fairly elusive concept for both tech lovers and the uninitiated.
Essentially, cloud computing is the storing and accessing of data and programs over the internet, as opposed to a hard drive. Seamless integration and sharing means it can be used anywhere, anytime.
Does the cloud affect me directly?
As business and services continue to adopt cloud computing, you probably already rely on it without even realising. Social interaction, education, and healthcare have all been impacted. For example, medical records are being moved to the cloud by many private and public healthcare providers.
The biggest way you feel the benefits of it is in your work life. Outsourcing of IT services in this manner reduces costs and energy, making cloud computing increasingly popular with businesses.
Just look around your office. Notice a lack of bulky, obtrusive filing cabinets? That’s thanks to cloud data storage. And your pay check that’s deposited flawlessly into your account every month alongside a clear and accessible online payslip? Cloud payroll services are heavily relied upon by numerous employers to take care of payday.
Should I be worried about the security of cloud computing?
With sensitive information relating to personal finances and data being increasingly stored online, concerns over the cloud’s security and reliability continue to cause heated debate.
Despite its numerous benefits and our growing reliance on it, issues still remain. Earlier this year, the Cloud Security Alliance identified the 12 biggest threats organisations face. Hacking, data breaches and data losses are just a few of the highlighted dangers. For businesses, the key to tackling them is ensuring staff are properly trained and comfortable with the cloud systems in use.
In fact, a little education is good for us all. Your world is becoming more and more dependent on cloud computing. If you’re worried about security going into the future, putting the time into researching and understanding how it all works will give you the peace of mind to enjoy all of its advantages.
