Up there in the cloud

Over the past few months, we’ve touted the advantages of accessing services, storage, and digital tools over the internet. As the wider charity sector has made the switch to remote working, organisations are already benefiting from online collaborative tools and smoother operations.

Given how important and widespread cloud technology has become, it is easy to skip over the most obvious question: what exactly is the cloud?

By taking a closer look at cloud technology, charities can get a better understanding of how the technology works and its benefits.

What is the cloud?

‘The cloud’ is a term used to refer to servers hosted on the internet and the tools and databases you can access through them.

Another popular term is cloud computing. PC Magazine says, “For it to be considered ‘cloud computing,’ you need to access your data or your programs over the internet, or at the very least, have that data synced with other information over the web.”

What cloud computing is not, is a localised computer programme in your hard drive. Rather, cloud computing refers to the computing power and storage that is accessible through the internet. Naturally, that power is available all the time and never switches off as it would with a local computer.

Why use cloud technology?

Other than saving precious office and desk space, why should charities use cloud technology?

The NCVO lists some of the top reasons why. First, cloud solutions offer mobility. Charity staff can access information from anywhere. Apps downloaded onto mobile devices give employees the flexibility to contact others while on the go.

Cloud-based virtual desktops allow charity to staff to operate remotely from the cloud, which means charities save on computers. Employees simply use their own personal computers to log into work. Charities save physical space because they can do away with bulky IT infrastructure and hardware.

Scalability and reliability are other reasons why cloud solutions work well. The NCVO and Charities Management agree that the cloud enables technology to change as rapidly charities do.

“It can easily scale with your team – so if you’re expanding and hiring new staff, or bringing in a large group of volunteers for a big campaign, you can set them up quickly. Just as easily, you can shut down their accounts once the project is complete, meaning that you only pay for what you need at that point in time.”

For charities on a shoestring budget, the cloud can help them to save money. One benefit of cloud computing is that costly hardware upgrades can be avoided, because new versions are simply downloaded. Charities can also save on IT infrastructure investment and maintenance costs.