4 of the Most Useful Cloud-Based Services That Facilitate Our Work From Home Experience

Cloud-based services have been with us for a very long time. However, we’ve been taking them for granted till now. The work-from-home situation has allowed us to explore and appreciate the facilities we receive from such cloud platforms and the services they offer. They provide us with a lot more than what we can ask for, and as the days go by, we’ll get to see more of what they can do. For now, here’s a quick discussion on some of the most useful cloud-based services that are facilitating our work-from-home experiences.

#1 Data storage and backup

Cloud platforms are widely used for storing data. These platforms have dedicated storage spaces allotted to their users, which can be accessed from any place at any time. Such features have made cloud platforms very popular among the masses. They have also made the use of physical portable storage systems, like USB flash drives and portable hard disks, almost null and void.

Cloud storage is also used to backup user data. A lot of applications and computer systems use these cloud platforms to backup data so that it can be retrieved in the event of a system failure or data loss. 

Cloud storage facilities are fast, easy to access, and secure. Hence, no matter how confidential your work is, or how large the files are, you can keep them safe in the cloud. Office workers all around the world are using shared cloud services with their colleagues to get their work done. As a result, even when these people are physically separated from one another in the work-from-home scenario, they can still keep tabs on their colleagues’ work through the cloud.

#2 Software as a Service (SaaS)

Cloud platforms can also deliver necessary resources to you on-demand, especially software applications. Software as a Service (SaaS) is a very popular software delivery and licensing model. It’s currently allowing millions of users around the world to access and use thousands of software and programs from their computers without having to install them locally. And this, in a work-from-home environment, is indeed a lifesaver.

Unlike the computers in your office, the PC at your home is unlikely to have all the necessary software you need to do your work. It can be because your PC lacks the required specifications to run those programs, or simply because they’re too expensive for you to buy. Whatever be the reason, it can’t be used as an excuse to not do your work. 

Thanks to SaaS models, developers are now able to provide you with these software services directly through the cloud. Signing up for such a service is not as costly as buying the actual program itself. You don’t even need to install it locally, which means that even if you have a low-end PC, you can still run the program since all the processing is taking place in the cloud.

#3 Communications

By now, we’re all more or less familiar with Zoom and Google Meet. These are cloud-based communication platforms and are used by millions around the world. Like Zoom and Meet, there are many other cloud-based platforms that facilitate communications. However, there are a lot of other ways as well through which cloud platforms are used to facilitate communications.

Cloud-based VOIP or hosted telephony services are also in demand today, and they’re the main platforms used to facilitate business communications. In a typical office environment, you’d have your regular business phone system to handle all your important calls. In a work-from-home situation, however, the Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is much more effective. 

Even in the typical office environment, people are ditching the traditional telephone systems for VoIP services. This results in significant cost savings and helps deliver more effective communication solutions.

#4 Testing and development

Cloud platforms are widely used to test and develop software programs. These platforms make it a lot easier for developers to simulate realistic scenarios on the software. They then push their products to the limits and test the integrity, performance, functionality, and security features. 

Thanks to cloud-based services, testing and development can be done remotely. This is a feature that developers have been using before they started working from home, and are now making full use of it for remote testing purposes. 

Cloud platforms also allow you to integrate the finished product with their cloud to see if you’d want to use it as a data storage facility for your software. They’ll also provide additional security to your product if you ask for it.

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