Servers are costly and require maintenance to run. They also require a significant amount of space, and scaling up to handle an influx of new users can be difficult and time-consuming. Is there a better option? Cloud computing is changing the way web development is done and how it is all handled on the back end after the app or website is created. Instead of renting servers, which can be costly, or worrying about the cost of scaling up or down, cloud computing offers developers and website owners a wide range of benefits.
More Security Options
Security is a top concern for websites and apps. Just choosing a secure password isn’t enough since there are ways for hackers to access the information stored in the website or app. From a ransomware attack to having the entire website deleted, hacking is a concern for most developers or website owners. With cloud computing, however, there is a variety of security options that can be used to help prevent potential issues.
Depending on the options chosen, it can be far more difficult for hackers to gain access to the back end of the website or app. If they get through the security measures, they may not be able to get anything at all because of the encryption. When changes are made to the website or app, security can be updated, too. This helps prevent new ways of hacking and helps protect all of the data further.
Flexibility and Scaling
Cloud computing allows for far more flexibility for website owners and developers. When an app or website is initially created, it may have few visitors. Marketing is done to bring in a lot more traffic. While this does help bring more visitors to the site or app and can increase sales, it comes with a downside, too. There are going to be a lot more resources used, and if the website or app can’t be scaled to handle the influx of visitors, it can have errors.
With cloud computing, scaling up is as easy as clicking a button. If the site or app goes viral, scaling up is easily done to match the increase in visitors. Once the dust settles, however, those additional resources aren’t needed anymore. Scaling down is just as easy as scaling up, and doing so can help the website or app owner save money until more resources are needed.
More Options for Cost
The initial development cost is not the only expense for websites and apps. There is also the cost of hosting the content, ongoing maintenance, digital marketing, and more. All of this does add up quickly. The good news is, however, another benefit of cloud computing is a larger variety of options for cost – and reduced cost for hosting. Cloud computing is generally less expensive than other options available today, and since it’s easy to scale, the cost can vary based on the resources needed for the website or app.
When a website or app starts to get bigger or sees a lot more visitors, it can be scaled up. This will cost more, but it is still lower than other options. If the website or app doesn’t need as many resources after a period of time, it can be scaled back down, saving the owner money. Since there are plenty of tiers for cost, business owners can choose the right one for their budget at any time and increase it as the budget grows.
Increased Redundancy
What happens if a file is deleted? Best practices for just about anything involving computers requires redundancy. Imagine a movie, and all of the files are accidentally deleted. Without a backup copy available, the entire movie needs to be recreated – something that is incredibly costly and takes a significant amount of time.
Redundancy reduces the chance for this to happen, as everything can be automatically backed up to prevent potential issues. With cloud computing, there are options for increasing redundancy by automatically making backups. If anything does happen, the missing files are recoverable, so the website or app will still be there. If the servers hosting the website or app fail, there are other ones that can be used, and switching can be done instantly to minimize potential downtime.
Better Accessibility
Accessing the website or app to make changes or updates no longer needs to be done at the office. With the increased number of employees working from home during and after the pandemic, there became a need for a better way to access files and make changes. Cloud computing allows for this to happen. Since everything is stored in the cloud, it can be accessed from anywhere and at any time.
If there is an emergency with the website and something happens on the weekend, no one needs to drive to the office to fix it. It’s possible for it to be fixed remotely by an IT team, even if they’re at home. This increased accessibility means teams can collaborate when working on the website from home or a remote office, the IT team can check for potential issues as needed even if they’re working remotely, and any potential downtime from issues is significantly reduced.
Another benefit of better accessibility is the creation of the website or app itself. Most small to medium-sized businesses don’t have a developer on-site to handle website creation and updates. They’ll need to work with a team of professionals to get the job done. For this, cloud computing is incredibly beneficial. The web developer can work closely with the business owner for the creation of the app, and any changes can be viewed by both of them instantly, increasing the ease of collaboration and helping to speed up the development of the app or website.
For web development, cloud computing is bringing a ton of changes – and many different benefits. Websites or apps are often easier to develop, scale, and access when the cloud is used, which means better upkeep and fewer potential issues. For website or app owners, opting to use the cloud can provide numerous benefits that can’t be found with other methods.