There are many famous pairings worldwide: peanut butter and jelly, macaroni and cheese, Batman and Robin, Tom and Jerry, and the list goes on. Outsourcing and cloud computing go hand in hand, and like the previous pairings, they enhance one another. On their own, they bring value to their users, but together, outsourcing and cloud integration bring that value to an amplified level that allows businesses to flourish and grow.

Traditional Outsourcing

Traditional outsourcing is when a business decides to partner with a third-party provider to complete certain tasks, such as monitoring and handling data. Pre-cloud computing meant that an outsource provider needed a physical server on-location in order to gain access to the data they were in charge of.

While this was a fantastic option for its time, it did come with several disadvantages, which made the switch to cloud-based computing the best solution as it allowed for more refined service delivery options.

Visualization of the cloud solutions that are available and the global access they have.

4 Types Of Cloud Computing Service Models

There are 4 main types of cloud computing service models to make use of when outsourcing. These cloud solutions include:

  • Software as a Service (SaaS) – software that is hosted by a provider and is accessible anywhere through an internet connection.
    • Hubspot, Salesforce, Canva, etc.
  • Platform as a Service (PaaS) – a developer platform is hosted by a supplier and is accessible anywhere through an internet connection.
    • SAP Cloud, Windows Azure, Heroku, etc.
  • Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) – an entire working infrastructure is virtualized and hosted by a provider and is accessible through the internet
    • DigitalOcean, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Cisco Metapod, etc.
  • Desktop as a Service (DaaS) – a virtual desktop is hosted by a provider and can be accessed through an internet connection
    • Citrix Managed Desktops, VMware Horizon Cloud, Windows Virtual Desktop, etc.

Instant Access

Quite possibly, the most useful aspect of cloud services is the instant access given to its users. It allows all those with the proper credentials to use whatever tools the company has stored in the cloud.

For developers working for a client using PaaS, the tools accessed include development frameworks that are used to quickly build software and applications. Jobs within the creative sphere, such as graphic designers, can quickly access the likes of Canva or Adobe Photoshop to complete their work.

This instant access also allows for faster and more efficient collaboration within and even across different departments. Cloud storage allows for files to be shared almost instantly. The Google Suite even allows for live collaboration on word documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and conference calls.

Cloud integration, no matter the provider, is closing the bridge between traditional in-person/in-office collaboration and remote teamwork but drastically reducing the delay between answers. This means any changes can be made on the fly and during an online conference call between multiple parties in different parts of the world.

The delivery speed of projects has also never been faster than with cloud solutions. Developers working within a PaaS are already coding in the environment they will be deploying the application or software on, graphic designers simply upload their rendered work into cloud storage, and positions such as sales or customer service can immediately update their customer relationship management tool (CRM), such as Salesforce, as they work.

These delivery options are almost exactly the same as the options in-office staff have, in fact, purely cloud-based businesses have these exact options.

Developer creating custom cloud solutions for a company.

Customizability

Businesses have the advantage with most cloud solutions as the terms aren’t usually set for extended periods of time. This means that if the service level agreements (SLA) aren’t met or the quality of service drops, businesses are free to avail of a different provider.

The lack of seamless migration technologies is the biggest drawback to switching providers, as different cloud solution providers don’t have the same technology. This makes moving your data difficult, and in some cases, not all the data can be moved.

In terms of the actual technology being used, cloud solutions can be modified to your specific needs. While there is no one-size-fits-all solution, hiring a developer to create the tools your business needs is always an option with cloud integration.

If your developers build these cloud-based applications to be cloud-agnostic or with the ability to run in any cloud-based environment, it will allow you to circumvent the previously mentioned drawback.

In addition, cloud applications can also be made to be cross-compatible with other cloud platforms, meaning they can interact with applications on other cloud platforms and still function as intended.

The Wrap Up

This pairing is an excellent example of where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, at least within the outsourcing world. Individually they make processes easier and more readily available for a wide audience, but together, they allow for a more streamlined service that allows businesses of all sizes to gain access to incredible resources at no tremendous financial cost.