Glossary · IT & systems
Cloud
Software and storage you use over the internet rather than on your own servers.
The cloud is a way of using software and storage over the internet instead of running them on your own servers. The servers sit in a supplier's data centre, and you use them through your browser or an app. You pay for what you need, and capacity grows with your usage.
The appeal is that you don't have to buy and maintain expensive hardware yourself. Updates, security and availabilityThe percentage of time that a system is available. are the supplier's responsibility, and you can reach your systems from anywhere. For an SME, that often means less hassle and a predictable monthly cost.
The downside is dependence. You rely on the supplier for availability and for where your data is stored. So look in advance at what has been agreed on security, uptime and where your data is kept.
