Two key benefits of cloud computing which you will often hear about are scalability and elasticity. These are two related but different ideas that are, nevertheless, sometimes used interchangeably. So just what are scalability and elasticity? Why is cloud computing able to deliver them? And just what does it mean for your business? Read on to find out!
Scalability. Scalability refers to your IT team’s ability to add or reduce the amount of resources it has available in order to meet demand. For instance, as your business grows, so too will the amount of data it produces and needs to store. If you are reliant on on-site, physical servers, that means upgrading your capabilities can take a large investment of time and money. However, with cloud computing, you can use existing data infrastructure from third-party cloud service providers. This means you can scale your IT capabilities with minimal disruption. Many providers even offer “pay-as-you-go” models with scalability in mind.
There are two types of scaling: vertical and horizontal. Scaling vertically means increasing or decreasing the size of an existing IT resource. For example, you may be running the same code, just on a higher capacity machine with more processing power and storage space. Horizontal scaling involves adding or removing new resources or infrastructure entirely, which can be a bit more complicated.
Elasticity. Elasticity is a similar concept to scalability, but there is a bit of nuance here. Think of scalability as your IT’s ability to expand or reduce resources in response to big picture, long term changes in demand. Elasticity is your ability to allocate your current resources dynamically and in response to your needs in the moment. Elasticity allows you to adapt to workflow changes at a granular level almost automatically. This is especially crucial in industries and work environments where demand can change suddenly or in a cycle, where it can result in overall savings in resources and infrastructure costs.
Elasticity and scalability are both important to keep in mind as you set up your IT for success in supporting your company as it excels in its day-to-day functions and grows in the long term. Being on the cloud gives you the ability to respond to the demands placed on your system dynamically, rapidly, and easily. But it’s also important to do your initial set-up and migration to the cloud right in order to take full advantage of its power. That’s where Broadline comes in. We have the years of experience and industry connections needed to become a part of your team and empower you to create solutions to your individual needs.
