Cloud Computing and how it benefits me

In general, cloud computing is a term used for IT services where you do not own the phyiscal infrastructure and instead rent it from a 3rd party supplier that then allows you to transfer data over the internet using their infrastructure. For small businesses I think this is great, as we may not have the capital or resources to run our own server and a lot of cloud computing is free to us. Here is what I'm now using...

I now use Google Calender to keep organised which is great because it syncs beautifully with both my Nokia phone and my iPod Touch. Meaning that whether I'm at a computer or on my mobile devices I can access and update the same calender (and without any cables!). I also share my Google Calender with a colleague meaning that we can stay up to date with each others schedules.

For sharing files between my clients and colleagues I now use Dropbox which is a file sharing product available across the platforms (Windows, Mac and Linux) and you receive 2gb of storage for free. But if you recommend someone and they sign up (easy to do if you're going to share files with a colleague) you get an extra 250mb and you can earn up to 3gb for free! There are also pricing plans if you require higher capacity storage.

Everything you store on Dropbox is encrypted both in transmission and storage. Nobody can access your files unless you choose to share them yourself. There's also an iPhone app for Dropbox allowing mobile access to your files. Again, no cables!

For collaboration, I use Google Docs which allows you to create Documents, Presentations and Spreadsheets all within your Web Browser which you can then share with colleagues and work on together. Microsoft, are also following suit and will be releasing 'Office Web Apps' with Office 2010 this year allowing you to collaborate on Office files together online.

If you use any Cloud Computing then get in touch and let me know. If you want to know more about it I'm thinking of running a Cloud Computing Workshop later this year.