At Directrix Computer Solutions, we strive to answer these questions for each of our customers, and to help them make the best choice for them and for their company. The next few posts are some of the main benefits to going virtual; but first, let us briefly clear up any "fog" that may surround these concepts in your mind.
To clear up this fog, we must first understand that Virtual Machines and Cloud Computing are one in the same. Very similar to stating PCs and desktop computing are one in the same.
The word computing is a verb that means to use a computer to process data. A more simple explanation is computing is the act of doing work on a computer.
So desktop computing would be doing work on a desktop computer or a "PC and/or Mac", and cloud computing would be doing work on a cloud computer.
What is a cloud computer? As stated previously, a cloud computer is a virtual machine. And a virtual machine is your desktop (Operating System, Applications, Data, etc) all on a server accessible via the Internet.
Now, at this point I may have already lost you. And my apologies on that. With all new forms of ideas, it usually takes about three different ways of explaining before our minds can wrap itself around the concept.
A Picture says a thousand words
Here you can see that the traditional way of computing was to have a computer that you did all of your work on. Now, the future is here and with Cloud Computing, you can access your Virtual Machine with any number of devices ranging from laptops, desktops all the way to even your cell phone.
A LOGIC problem to explain this concept.
Desktop Computer = Mac and/or PC
Desktop Computing = Doing work on a Desktop Computer
Virtual Machine = Cloud Computer
Cloud Computing = Doing work on a Virtual Machine
Or a reminiscent of the SATs in High School: As Desktop Computer is to Mac and/or PC, so is Virtual Machine is to Cloud Computer. And as Desktop Computing is to Doing work on a Desktop Computer, so is Cloud Computing is to doing work on a Virtual Machine.
A Simplified version to explain this concept.
Before, you would have your laptop or desktop contain all of your programs like QuickBooks, Microsoft Office, and the like. And if your computer crashed, all of your data would be lost. Now, Virtual Machines put all of your data and programs on a server which you access via the Internet. This allows you to be able to access all of your information and programs on any computer, no matter where you are. And all of your data is constantly backed up so that you never experience any downtime. If your traditional computer crashed, you would need to buy a new computer, reinstall all of your programs and download all of your documents that you made a backup copy of 2 years ago, (or maybe last week if you were lucky). Now, if your operating system crashes on a Virtual Machine you call us and a few seconds later, your Virtual Machine is back up and running, all of your programs already installed, and all of your documents the way they were before your system crashed. Your downtime went from a few days or a week to a few minutes.
How easy is it to learn to use?
Extremely easy. When you log into your Virtual Machine (which you do just like starting any other program on your computer) your screen looks just like you are use to. Whether Windows XP or Windows 7, your Virtual Machine looks like and acts just like your traditional computer, only it responds much faster.
How Secure is It?
Now, you may have some questions about security. If all of your information and documents are on a server accessible via the Internet, can't anyone hack into your files and get at your information? Maybe you are even thinking that all of your financial, and customer's financial data, is more secure at home, than on the server. That is where our security measures excel. Unless someone knows your computer's ID number (also known as the port number), your user name and your password, they can not gain access to your information. And when you access the information yourself, all of the data being sent to your computer is encrypted so that the information it contains is safe. Our security measures provide you with peace of mind and compliance with HIPPA standards.
What does HIPPA really mean? It means that because our security measures meet and exceed HIPPA standards, you comply with the governments regulations on security when it comes to medical records and social security/financial records being kept online.
What are the benefits?
As I will discuss later on in other posts. The four main benefits of Virtual Machines and Cloud Computing are: 1) High Accessibility 2) High Security 3) High Expandability and 4) High Profitability.
In general, with Virtual Machines, you can now access your data anywhere there is an Internet connection and on any device if it can access the Internet. Your data is secured and is HIPPA compliant. You can quickly and easily upgrade your machine with more memory, hard drive space and operating systems. And since you can continue to use the computer that you have (even if it is 10 years old), you save a lot of money on new equipment and IT costs; getting more power in a computer for a lot less money.
If you would like to know more, keep reading our posts, or contact us. We would love to hear from you.
Christopher Warrington
Vice President of Communications and Marketing
Directrix Computer Solutions
cwarrington@directrixsolutions.com
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