Microsoft has run several commercials introducing the
concept of cloud computing to smaller audiences, but the idea is simple and is
not tied specifically to any one company. Basically, a cloud lets a number of
computers that can be thousands of miles apart act as if they were on a local
area network, rather than a large area network.
The company that offers the service maintains and runs the
server which can contain thousands of such networks. The general idea is that
the user gets the control he would have over a local area network without
having all the equipment he would need to run a wide area network. Users can
setup network drives and copy files just as they could from any other network.
The concept of a web drive provided by services such as Host Gator is similar.
The primary advantage of cloud computing is the small user
is that he does not have to worry about where the other people in the cloud
actually are. The company sets it up so that the underlying software runs over
the TCP/IP protocol. The users just need a way of connecting to the Internet,
which can include mobile devices such as the user's cell phone.
Because cloud computing is offered as a service, a person
must pay a monthly plan for the convenience. The overall price for the service is
generally less than the cost of updating routers, network cards and other
items. Another advantage comes from having the Information technology portion
of the business outsourced to the company that runs the virtual server.
