1. Cloud Files & Data Storage
Cloud storage and file-sharing services come in the form of SaaS and PaaS products. If critical files can't be accessed by employees, performance slows. Business storage and file-sharing solutions are designed to move, host, and manage enterprise levels of data over the internet.
SaaS Examples
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OneDrive for Business
Google Drive includes G-Suite, and Onedrive has Microsoft 365, Office 365, and Sharepoint Online. Its default storage capacity is 1TB per user. If your business has an Office 365 subscription with 5 or more users, your OneDrive for Business storage becomes unlimited. -
Google Drive for Business
If you get a basic G-Suite subscription you get storage, but can upgrade to at least 1TB per user. G-Suite's standalone cloud storage solution Drive Enterprise comes with Google Docs, Google Sheets, and Google Calendar.
PaaS Examples
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Azure Cloud Storage
Microsoft's advanced storage solution for businesses looking for scalability, security, and durability. The core services of the Azure Storage platform: Azure Blobs, Azure Files, Azure Queues, Azure Tables, and Azure Disks. -
Cloud Storage on AWS
Storage on AWS offers a variety of services. The three broad categories of storage on AWS include object storage, block storage, and file storage. You can further optimize on AWS with their S3 Storage and EBS Storage products.
2. Applications
These are pieces of software that users access primarily over the internet. Since not run locally, users don't need many onsite resources to utilize them, a laptop is usually enough. You can get the benefits of cloud applications by either implementing a SaaS solution or by using PaaS services to create.
SaaS Examples
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Quickbooks
This is an accounting software application developed by Intuit. Income and expense tracking allows for easy cash flow management and reporting, then time tracking makes payroll and invoicing easier. -
Salesforce CRM
This CRM helps your business visualize every stage of the sales process to easily understand where customers and leads sit. -
Zoom
You're almost certainly familiar with this one. You can also use Zoom for audio conferencing, hosting webinars, live chat, screen sharing, and other useful capabilities. -
Microsoft 365
Formerly Office 365, Microsoft 365 is a subscription service with the latest office applications and Windows 10. It has a consumer level, a business level, and an enterprise level.
PaaS Examples
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Microsoft Azure
Formerly Windows Azure, the platform can now handle far more than just Windows. You can even run Linux Virtual machines on it.
3. Workstations
Cloud workstations go by many names, including cloud desktops, hosted desktops, and even Desktop as a Service (DaaS). Cloud workstations present a virtualized, fully functional computer on your preferred device. Businesses typically purchase licenses for these desktops which the vendor hosts. They enable employees to log into their workstation from any device, making remote work significantly easier.
DaaS Examples
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Amazon WorkSpaces
Your company can provide Windows or Amazon Linux desktops to employees across the globe over the internet. This simplifies the complexity that typically comes with having to track, manage, and maintain a fleet of physical desktops. -
Windows Virtual Desktop
This solution virtualizes both desktops and apps over the cloud. Your organization can migrate remote desktop services (RDS) and apps to any computer, virtualize Microsoft 365 apps, and manage Windows 10.
4. Email
These products grant your business access to email tools over the internet. The vendor provides you with all the necessary security, maintenance, and technology needed to keep your email solution running smoothly.
Examples
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Outlook for Business
This product comes with Microsoft 365 so you can utilize the cloud storage from OneDrive and the Microsoft Office Suite. You'll have full admin controls over employee accounts. -
G-Suite Email for Business
It gives your company full control over emails associated with your business. With G-suite, you have full admin control over the business's Google Drive.
5. Servers
They're stable, secure, fast, and avoid the issues often associated with physical servers. There is more scalability than physical servers and any software issues that occur within a virtual server will isolate. Even if you use the same provider as another company that becomes overloaded, it won't impact your virtual server.
IaaS Examples
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Google Compute Engine
This IaaS offering enables virtual machines (VMs) and provides both Windows and Linux OS, though you can run it on any OS with its custom option. -
Azure Virtual Machine (VM)
Microsoft Azure's IaaS offering. Common types include General Purpose, Compute Optimized, Memory-Optimized, Storage Optimized, GPU, and High-Performance Compute.
