5 Tasks That the Cloud Has Made Much Easier

Cloud Computing  

In the past, people would run applications or programs from software downloaded on a physical computer or server in their building. Now, cloud computing allows people access to the same kinds of applications through the Internet.

While it's always nice to hear the hype, appreciating the cloud requires figuring out what it's doing for you now. Below are five tasks that the cloud has made easier - and that you've probably taken for granted.

Data Backup

Backing up your data to the cloud can be as easy as pressing a button. With a number of major companies like Google providing some level of free cloud storage, you can put all of your valuable information in multiple locations. You no longer need any kind of physical media to keep your data safe. There are also companies like Bask that can back up your files and encrypt them so that only you have permission to access them.

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Group Projects

If you're working with a group, you need to work with the cloud. Google's suite of document applications can allow you to set up a group and work on documents with one another in real time. It doesn't take much to get a document started, and edits can be discussed by the group as people work. This wonderful application of the cloud works both in real time and asynchronously, negating the need for putting together project meetings.

Scheduling

Keeping to a schedule used to be a matter of carrying around an appointment book. Thanks to the cloud, all you need to do is to update your online calendar one time in order to have an always-available to-do list. You can set up alerts at work, peruse them on the train home, and make edits while you're making dinner, all without having physical access to the original file.

Document Management

Thanks to applications like Google Docs, you can now manage and edit documents digitally in real time. You no longer need to send files back and forth via e-mail or (even worse) transfer physical documents through the mail. Set up a document, give the right people the permission to edit the file, and watch as everything is done in real time. Keeping track of your document changes is as easy as looking at a menu, figuring out who has made what edit is as easy as looking at change logs, and it can all be done from anywhere—work, home, or even on the go on your smartphone.

Remote Site Work

Telecommuting has never been easier, thanks to the cloud. The simple ability to access your work in full from any location has revolutionized the way that people work from remote sites. While using remote desktop apps has allowed employees to access data at work for years, the ability to access your real files from across the world has made it easier than ever to get work done on-site and away from the office.

By Dixie Somers

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Author Bio - Dixie is a freelance writer who loves to write about business, finance and self improvement. She lives in Arizona with her husband and three beautiful daughters.