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What is Cloud Computing? History of the Cloud History of the Cloud Despite the cloud being a fairly new technological term, you may be surprised to discover that the concept behind it can be traced back almost to the very beginnings of the modern computer age. FROM CUMULUS TO CIRRUS The considered and accepted evolution of the cloud, from concept to daily use, starts as far back as the 1950s. 1955 According to a popular myth, John McCarthy, the computer scientist who coined the term ‘artificial intelligence’, dreamed up the concept of computing time-sharing. In those days, computing cost millions of dollars, so McCarthy came up with the idea of renting time-shared computing resources to companies who couldn’t afford the technology. This moment is regarded as the beginning of the…

What is Cloud Computing? Cloud Problems Cloud Problems While the cloud may sound like the ideal solution to any company, or individuals’, technology needs, it isn’t without its concerns. Due to the nature of the cloud, an issue with just a single element could effectively reduce your business to a virtual standstill. CONCERNS IN THE CLOUD With the responsibility of entire company fortunes and user’s private data, cloud providers do their best to limit problems; but they do appear from time to time. UPGRADES While unquestionably beneficial, automatic upgrades in the cloud can have a negative effect too. For example, in 2011, Amazon’s EC2 suffered a huge outage as a planned upgrade went horribly wrong. Storage went off-line and, in extreme cases, some customers lost data. MOUNTING COSTS Although the…

What is Cloud Computing? Basic Consumer Cloud Services Basic Consumer Cloud Services The cloud focuses a lot on businesses, and what a company can get from it to make itself more successful, with often minimal regard to what the home user can get. Thankfully, the consumer isn’t left out in the cold where the cloud is concerned. HOME CLOUDS Agile business models and elaborate disaster recovery plans aren’t always at the forefront of what the average user wants from a cloud service. So what can the consumer expect? STORAGE The most significant section of the consumer cloud market is undoubtedly online storage. The likes of Dropbox, Google, Microsoft and Apple all cater for the home user with 5GB, 100GB or more, in some circumstances, of storage available. And it’s all…

Top Cloud Storage Providers Dropbox Dropbox Headquartered in San Francisco, Dropbox was formed back in 2007 by MIT students Drew Houston and Arash Ferdowsi, and has seen many changes in its time. Now valued at well over $10 billion, and with a user base of over 500 million, together with over 600 billion pieces of content uploaded, Dropbox has become one of the top cloud storage services in the world. There’s said to be over 2.2 billion files uploaded to Dropbox daily, which is probably why it’s considered as one of the best cloud storage solutions available today. However, it’s been something of a rocky road for the company since it was founded all those years ago. The problems mainly stem from Dropbox’s lack of security, which includes several high-level…

Top Cloud Storage Providers iCloud iCloud Apple’s iCloud was launched in October 2011 as the successor to the company’s previous subscription-based service, MobileMe. Thanks to Apple’s inspirational idea of integrating iCloud into the entire Apple operating system line of products, the service was boasting a user base of over 20 million after just one week of becoming live. You’ve got to hand it to Apple, when it does something innovative, it works like a charm and becomes the benchmark for other companies to try and attain. iCloud is one of technology’s greatest success stories, and it’s not difficult to see why. After all, if you’re already producing an operating system that runs on some of the world’s most expensive computers, why not seamlessly incorporate a cloud service that quickly becomes…

Calendar/Docs Docs On the surface, Google docs might appear to be just another, simplistic word processor; albeit one that’s online and cloud-based. However, dig a little deeper and you’ll come across some surprisingly powerful features. VOICE TYPING The days of using the keyboard for entering text are seriously numbered. If you use Google Chrome, and you have a microphone attached to your system, click the Tools option in the Docs menu, followed by Voice Typing. Make sure the microphone is working, and click the Mic icon to start talking. Click the icon again to stop Voice Typing. FONTS Docs has a good number of fonts from which to choose when creating a new document. If you want, though, simply click on the fonts box, followed by More Fonts. This brings…

Google Cloud – In Focus How to Use Google Drive How to Use Google Drive Google Drive is a free storage service which allows you to store images, folders and documents in the Cloud. These files and documents can then be accessed from any tablet, phone or computer via the Google Drive software. Not only is this a great way to free up space on your devices, it also lets you access your files from almost anywhere. 1 SEARCH You can search Google Drive in the same way that you can search Gmail or one of the other Google products. 2 NEW Click the New button to open a new document, spreadsheet, presentation, form or drawing. 3 FOLDERS Your preset Google Drive folders are shown here, along with any that…

Microsoft Cloud – In Focus What are Microsoft’s Cloud Apps? What are Microsoft’s Cloud Apps? Like Google, Microsoft has invested a considerable sum bringing its cloud foundations to the end-user and SMB, as well as much bigger enterprise clients. OneDrive is the more prominent cloud service that the company offers, but Microsoft has also unleashed its Office apps to the cloud. OFFICE IN THE CLOUDS There are quite a lot of cloud services on offer from the Redmond Company, but for the sakes of the consumer enduser, these are by far the most utilised. ONEDRIVE OneDrive is Microsoft’s answer to cloud storage for both consumers and business users alike. The basic plan comes in with a free 5GB of storage available, but you can soon expand that to 50GB or…

Microsoft Cloud – In Focus How to Use OneDrive How to Use OneDrive Microsoft’s OneDrive may seem like a new concept but it’s been available for the last nine years or so; having formally been known as SkyDrive and Windows Live folders. It has seen many upgrades during that time though and is now a far more capable cloud solution. DO MORE WITH ONEDRIVE To start using OneDrive you need a Microsoft account. Head on over to www.onedrive.live.com and click the Sign Up For Free button to begin. STEP 1 Once you’ve signed into your OneDrive account you’ll be presented with the default Files view. From here you can drag and drop any files and content into your OneDrive window to populate it. You can also click the Upload link…

Dropbox Cloud – In Focus Dropbox Files Dropbox Files is essentially the main area of the service. It’s to where all your individual files and folders can be uploaded, or created. The files are arranged according to your preferences, and can be shared with ease. DRAG ‘N DROP Thanks to a recent update, Dropbox reintroduced the ability to drag and drop folders from your computer to the Files area in Dropbox. Naturally, you can use the desktop client, but if you, like us, dislike installing yet another third-party app in the background, the web interface now works much better. SHARING Once you’ve uploaded files, images, or documents, for example, you can click them to view the contents. You’re also able to share any of the folders and individual files with…

Dropbox Photos/Dropbox Transfer Dropbox Transfer Having come out of beta testing in November 2019, Dropbox’s new service Transfer is still quite a fresh-faced service. It’s a sharing tool, but in the same sense as the other collaboration examples that Dropbox offers. START You’ll obtain Transfer from the root level of the main Dropbox menu, on the left side of the screen. If you can’t see it, click the Dropbox icon to go to the root level where you can find and click on the Transfer link. FILES Transfer allows Dropbox users to send a copy of files. Recipients won’t need a Dropbox account to receive Transfers, and alterations made by recipients won’t change the original file. Dropbox says it’s “designed for times when you need to turn over large collections…

Apple iCloud – In Focus The iCloud Service for Storage & Syncing The iCloud Service for Storage & Syncing iCloud is Apple’s foothold in the modern cloud services market. It’s robust, features excellent georedundancy (meaning if an iCloud server goes down, there’s another somewhere in the world to pick up) and is more than capable to handle the average user’s needs. STORING YOUR DOCUMENTS IN iCLOUD STEP 1 Click on your desktop to open Finder, then open iCloud Drive from the Go menu. You may need to log into iCloud using your Apple ID. You’ll see a Finder window showing the contents of your iCloud drive folder, with folders for some apps that store output in iCloud. STEP 2 To save files of any type into your iCloud Drive folder,…

Apple iCloud – In Focus Cloud Technologies: Artificial Intelligence Cloud Technologies: Artificial Intelligence AI, Artificial Intelligence, has evolved significantly over the last decade. Where once it was perceived as something we’d probably only achieve in the next hundred years or so, it’s now believed that true AI is, in all likelihood, just a few years away. And despite that scaring the socks off many futurists, it may astonish you to discover that AI is already here. If you’re able, pick up your phone, activate it, and ask either Siri or the Google Assistant a simple question. Now ask it a more complicated question. You’ve just talked to an AI system designed to listen out for your voice, analyse what’s being asked and respond to it in an appropriate fashion. Significantly, it…

Cloud for Business Cloud eCommerce Examples Cloud eCommerce Examples The ability to lower costs, respond quickly to any market opportunity and accelerate sales are why many businesses are turning to cloud-based eCommerce applications. There are countless eCommerce solutions available, so again, some research is needed beforehand. CLOUD SALES Businesses need to consider many aspects when it comes to choosing the eCommerce platform that best suits their needs. Out of the many, here are ten excellent examples to investigate. SHOPIFY Hailed as one of the best eCommerce cloud services available, Shopify covers pretty much every aspect of sales for your business. It’s easy to use, has a vast range of services, and can be customised for your company. BIGCOMMERCE Another of the top names in e-Commerce cloud computing is BigCommerce, a…

Cloud for Business Email Providers for SMBs Email Providers for SMBs Email has become one of the most critical services of the modern business. Customers are won and lost through email, co-workers are better informed and can collaborate, and without email, your company’s growth is severely limited. CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF EMAIL The importance of finding a good cloud-based email provider goes without saying. There are plenty of services to research before choosing, which can be time-consuming. Here’s ten to help start you off. GSUITE Google’s Gmail for business is an obvious first choice for most small business users; there’s a good chance you and your workforce already use the personal version. Gmail for business offers 30GB of storage, compatibility with MS Outlook, and a personalised email address for…

Cloud for Business Private Cloud Benefits Private Cloud Benefits Contrary to public clouds, a private cloud is dedicated to a single organisation offering better control over the cloud setup, better security and privacy, virtualisation, and better resource allocation. THE PRIVATE CLOUD While public and private clouds share many benefits, opting for a private cloud can yield better results for a business – depending on what the business wants from its cloud service. CONTROL A private cloud setup gives more control to the business over the cloud’s servers and configurations. In a private cloud, the servers are dedicated to the business therefore you can tailor it to your own company specifications. IMPROVED SECURITY Sensitive data such as banking, medical or other confidential material, requires a higher level of security than that…

DIY Cloud Setting Up Your Own Cloud Setting Up Your Own Cloud If the thought of building your own cloud storage setup doesn’t intimidate you, then you’re in luck. However, there are plenty of solutions available, utilising a variety of components and hardware, all achieving some excellent results. If you’re interested in making a cloud storage solution at home, or the office, then you’ll need to factor in a few elements first. Some work better than others; some can be quite tedious to set up and get going, whereas others are really very simple. Either way, here are some examples of what you’ll need to begin. COMPUTER A fairly obvious component, in this case. The computer itself doesn’t need to be the most powerful PC available, so don’t go spending…

DIY Cloud Using a NAS Drive as a Cloud Server Using a NAS Drive as a Cloud Server While creating your own cloud server is a great solution to an online offering, it’s not always practical, secure, cost-effective, or easy to manage. NAS, Network Attached Storage, drives are a far better solution. They’re small, efficient and powerful units designed to store and share data. NAS BENEFITS NAS technology has come a long way in the last few years. No longer the monolithic boxes dominating the room, in fact, they’re now quite discreet, media-type installations hidden away in the corner of a living room or office. They are remarkably powerful these days too. With specifications that surpass those of a top of the range PC from not so long ago, a…

DIY Cloud Cloud Security Cloud Security The biggest issue that faces every user of a cloud service, regardless of whether they’re a home or business user, is security. How can you be certain your data is safe from hackers in the cloud? Nothing is 100% secure, but we can take precautions. SAFE CLOUDS Ensuring Cyber security is often endeavoured by having multiple layers of security in place. Here then are ten golden rules for cloud security. RULE 1 Always use a cloud service that offers full encryption for your data. Ideally, the cloud service should offer 256-bit AES military-grade encryption across all its communications and storage. This way, it’s going to be exceedingly difficult for a hacker to gain entry through brute force alone. RULE 2 Encrypting your data before…

DIY Cloud Cloud Technologies: Gaming in the Cloud Cloud Technologies: Gaming in the Cloud With the release of Google Stadia, the gaming community has officially entered a new era of content delivery: Gaming in the Cloud, or Gaming as a Service. Nevertheless, is it the future we want, or just some kind of cloak and dagger way for hardware companies to further throttle the games industry into dancing to their tune? Sony, Nintendo, Amazon, Electronic Arts, NVIDIA and Microsoft; each of these companies must look to the future of gaming in the cloud, and change the way that games are played, distributed, sold and owned. Google’s Stadia project launched in November 2019, and, while the hype behind it was reaching a fever pitch, the actual launch was something of a…

Google Cloud Hardware Guides Google Cloud to Home Google Cloud to Home From Google Home to Nest, Google’s collection of smart home devices has expanded rapidly over the last year. All these items have one thing in common: they all interact with the power of the Google cloud and its many services. Behind the pleasingly aesthetic speakers, Nest Wi-Fi, Hubs, Home and Chromecast devices lies the heart of the Google cloud services; in particular, the Google Assistant. This artificial intelligence-powered virtual assistant was developed by the AI teams at Google and released in 2016. It’s written in C++ but utilises Python libraries to help understand the communications between people and the actions that are required of it. CThe AI side of things, alongside the wealth of information that’s incorporated into…

What is Cloud Computing? The Cloud in Numbers THE CLOUD IN NUMBERS The cloud and all the services relating to cloud technologies have some pretty big numbers associated with them. Here are some interesting factoids about the cloud. $500bn Public cloud spending will grow to nearly $500 billion by 2023. An estimated 80% of all companies will be using a cloud service by the end of 2021. 2020 85% 85% of all new software developed in 2020 will be for cloud delivery. 14% of all companies that have fully adopted cloud solutions have downsized their IT workforce. 60-70% It is estimated that 60-70% of all IT enterprises will be investing in cloud-based solutions by the end of 2020. 95% It is estimated that by the end of 2020, 95% of all workloads…

What is Cloud Computing? Why Cloud? Why Cloud? Why should you use a cloud computing solution when having your own in-house IT setup is more traditional? What is it that makes using a cloud provider more logical in today’s interconnected world? AHEAD IN THE CLOUD We’ve touched on a few areas and benefits of using a cloud provider for your business and home use, so let’s break these down a little more. FLEXIBILITY Cloud-based solutions are incredibly flexible in their design. They can grow as your business needs increase and they can be scaled back, should you ever require it. It’s this level of operational agility, or elasticity, that makes a cloud solution perfect for the business and consumer IT model. DISASTER RECOVERY Both businesses, of any size, and home…

Top Cloud Storage Providers Sync.com Sync.com Sync.com is a Canadian company that was founded in 2011 by Thomas Savundra, Suhan Shan and Darius Anita, and advertises itself as a privacy-friendly, easy to use cloud storage solution. The base solution offers 5GB of storage alongside sharing and collaboration, real-time backup and sync, and the ability to access the service from anywhere. The focus with Sync.com was to create a functioning cloud storage solution, while offering the user a complete package protected behind the company’s unique end-to-end encryption. The free option of 5GB isn’t the best available, but it’s adequate for storing essential, sensitive, or personal data within Sync’s higher-level encryption cloud. There’s no upload or download limits on the free option, no third-party tracking, and file versions and recovery are limited…

Top Cloud Storage Providers pCloud pCloud Founded in 2013 this Swiss-based cloud service has fast become one of the most highly rated in the market. It’s easy to use, has a large, initial, free storage capacity, and some great multimedia features alongside excellent security. According to pCloud, over 10 million users have switched to them from their former cloud services. People who work at the likes of Instagram, Twitter, Nike, LinkedIn, and many more big names use the company; and it’s quite easy to see why. pCloud is designed for ease of use. Its web interface looks similar to that of Windows Explorer, and it’s incredibly quick to browse around as well as upload and download. Otherwise, it offers an enhanced backup and storage area for you to drop your…

Top Cloud Storage Providers Amazon Drive Amazon Drive Amazon’s cloud services are the stuff of legend in the technology world. Acres of humming servers, petabytes of potential storage, and teraflops of computing power that’s within the top 50 fastest supercomputers in the world, is an IT enthusiast’s dream come true. However, beyond all that, the company offers a more personal approach to cloud storage: Amazon Drive. Amazon Drive launched in 2011 and since then has undergone a huge amount of changes, both in its user interface and the number of features on offer. The changes Amazon has implemented haven’t always gone down too well with the users. Confusion over what’s available and what’s not, what can only be done with the Prime account and what can’t, and whether it’s a…

Google Drive/Gmail Gmail Gmail is one of the best webmail services available for the home and business user. While it may lack some of the advanced features that an in-house email server can offer, there’s still a lot you can do with Gmail’s easy to use interface. GROUPS Group emails are great, but they can become a distraction when you’re trying to work. Clicking on the More button in a groupwide email and selecting Mute will let you get the message conversations but without the notifications. SETTINGS Gmail Labs were once one of the best elements to the company’s email service, but they’ve been replaced with the Advanced tab now. Click on Settings and then the Advanced tab. In here are numerous features, such as Preview Pane and Custom Shortcuts.…

Google Cloud – In Focus Sheets Google Sheets is another element to Google’s online office suite, this time as a lightweight spreadsheet app. It works in much the same way as Microsoft’s Excel, however without the more heavy-duty features. TEMPLATES There are different ways of getting started with Google Sheets. You can create a new spreadsheet, upload anexisting spreadsheet from a computer, or use a template from the Templates Gallery, to create a spreadsheet with a specific purpose. CONVERSIONS When you upload a spreadsheet into Google Drive, you have the choice to keep your spreadsheet in the original format or convert it into the Google Docs format. If you don’t convert the spreadsheet, you may not be able to access it collaboratively within your teams. SHARING Sharing and collaboration within…

Google Cloud – In Focus How to Use Gmail How to Use Gmail Gmail is an integral element of the Google app suite, an email platform that works seamlessly on whichever OS you use, quickly becoming a key part of your daily routine. 1 MAILBOXES These links let you display the messages in those mailboxes. A number next to any mailbox shows the amount of unread messages, rather than the total amount in the mailbox. 2 LABELS Labels allow you to categorise your messages into various pre-set or custom folders. You can save messages under more than one label for better cross-referencing. 3 CHAT CONTROLS This section shows a list of your available Chat contacts, as well as containing the various chat controls: Add Contact, Status Update, etc. You can read more about…

Microsoft Cloud – In Focus OneDrive Microsoft’s OneDrive is the company’s cloud-based storage service for its users; both business and home. It doesn’t offer as much free storage out-of-the-box as Google’s service, but the pricing for expansion is quite competitive. STORAGE Although there’s only 5GB of storage available (which is still quite a lot for most folks), you can easily upgrade to 100GB for just £1.99 per month. Beyond 100GB you can move up to 1TB of storage for just £59.99 per year, or opt for the more comprehensive solution of adding more users (six, with 1TB available each). SECURE VAULT A great feature of OneDrive is its newly added Personal Vault. Here you can store sensitive files in a heightened secure environment, complete with two-step verification, which auto-locks after…

Microsoft Cloud – In Focus How to Use Office Online How to Use Office Online If you’re out of the office or home and need to edit an existing Office document, or create a new one, then Office Online gets you working for free. These versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint and more are extremely handy, and all you need is a Microsoft account. OFFICE FOR EVERYONE Take a moment to sign up for a Microsoft account, then head over to office.live.com. You’ll notice a range of Office icons, click one to get started. STEP 1 There are ten Office cloud options available from the office.live.com site. The familiar, and well used, Word, Excel and PowerPoint take the first three places, with OneNote, access to your OneDrive account, Mail, and so…

Dropbox Files/Dropbox Photos Dropbox Photos Dropbox Photos is a shadow of its former self. Where it once had a ton of features, there’s very little now; it was even removed from Dropbox at one point. However, it’s still available, and here’s what you can do with it. PHOTOS Dropbox Photos can be found by navigating through the Files area, then clicking on the Photos link on the menu to the left of the main area. Note, if you’re currently uploading content via the web interface, you won’t be able to change locations within Dropbox without cancelling the upload. TIMESTAMPS The Photos in your Dropbox storage are listed according to the timestamp on the image or photo itself, with the most recent date and date displayed first followed by older images…

Dropbox Cloud – In Focus How to Use Dropbox Storage How to Use Dropbox Storage Dropbox is an excellent cloud storage service. It’s simple to use, looks good, works well and can be extremely effective and quick. Google’s cloud-based services may encompass the entire user package but Dropbox is a far more lightweight option for any user type. USING DROPBOX Getting up and running with Dropbox’s Basic Plan doesn’t require much computing legwork. All you need to do is sign-in to www.dropbox.com. STEP 1 You can sign up with Dropbox either as a separate account or through your existing Google account. It doesn’t matter which you opt for, as any alerts, notifications and so on are automatically emailed to the account you use. STEP 2 Getting content into your Dropbox…

Apple iCloud – In Focus iCloud Desktop Documents & Folders With macOS, iOS and iPadOS, you can not only store your documents on iCloud but also files and folders that are found on your desktop. It’s done automatically, so a file on your Mac’s desktop is accessible from your mobile device and other Macs. STEP 1 To switch on iCloud Desktop Documents and Folders on your Mac, open System Preferences and click on Apple ID > iCloud. Click on the Options button next to iCloud Drive and then check the box next to Desktop & Documents Folders. It may take time to set up. STEP 2 On iPadOS or iOS open the Files app, or the iCloud Drive app if you’re using an old version of iOS. Under the iCloud…

Cloud for Business Cloud Services for SMB/SME Cloud Services for SMB/SME As the owner of a small /medium business, cloud technologies are certainly worth considering. They carry the technical impact that an in-house solution can deliver, without the extra cost of administration, space used, or purchasing hardware. But what exactly can you expect from the cloud? GOOD FOR BUSINESS Cloud-based tools and services that are best suited for SMB/SMEs are quite varied, depending on the type of business you run. Here then are ten examples of what’s on offer. COMMUNICATIONS Voice over IP (VoIP), video conferencing, email marketing and social media engagement, are an essential part of the modern business. You’re no longer limited to word of mouth within the town in which you operate, with cloud communications services you’re…

Cloud for Business Cloud Accounting Examples Cloud Accounting Examples Small business owners no longer need to purchase expensive and time-consuming accounting software, thanks to cloud accounting services. The benefits of accounting in the cloud are well documented: better security, disaster recovery, and accessible data. But what’s available for you? CLOUD FINANCIALS A typical cloud accounting service offers invoicing, banking, purchasing, expenses, and tax management, with the ability to integrate add-ons such as PayPal. CLEARBOOKS ClearBooks is an excellent start when researching cloud accounting for your business. With it, you can create customisable invoices, set automatic payment reminders, and schedule recurring invoices. It’s also excellent for keeping up with your tax returns and managing your banking. XERO Xero allows online invoicing, a mobile app, stock management, payroll management and bank reconciliation.…

Cloud for Business Green Cloud Providers Green Cloud Providers Although powering a huge datacentre may not appear to be very ‘green’, the environmental costs of cloud computing have been assessed by Sustainablebrands.com and found to be of benefit to those businesses looking to reduce the impact on the environment. GOING GREEN Fewer machines, efficient climate control, reuse of generated heat, and many more environmental benefits can be delivered from cloud computing. Here are ten cloud providers who are ‘going green’. EVRY CLOUD SERVICES Based across Scandinavia, this cloud hosting company offers many excellent services through its green datacentres. Powered by hydropower and operating in accordance with ISO 14001 Environmental Standard Guidelines, this Nordic datacentre is one of the greenest in the world. NETAPP Headquartered in California and ranked in the…

Cloud for Business Hybrid Cloud Benefits Hybrid Cloud Benefits A hybrid cloud setup is a best-of-both-worlds approach. You have a mixture of in-house computing with server hardware and software while using both types of cloud-based services. An example is a company with its own server for storage and also using webmail. THE HYBRID CLOUD An ideal hybrid cloud setup allows a business to move its workloads between in-house, private and public clouds seamlessly; giving the business a host of extra benefits. WORKLOAD FLEXIBILITY Without a doubt, the greatest benefit a hybrid setup offers is the flexibility of an in-house server setup while being able to move into private and public cloud setups. Information, according to its sensitivity, for example, can be arranged between the three models ensuring greater security. BIG…

DIY Cloud Virtualisation for the Consumer Virtualisation for the Consumer Virtualisation in the cloud, also known as Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI), is a technology that allows users access to an entire operating system. The operating system is an image, naturally, housed on a cloud server, where you can work on the desktop as if it was installed locally on your computer. DESKTOP ANYWHERE What are the advantages of setting up or using a cloud-based virtual desktop, then? As it happens, here are ten examples of where a VDI will help you out. RUN LEGACY PROGRAMS One of the advantages of running a virtual desktop in the cloud, is the ability to execute old programs and apps in the operating system environment for which they were designed. For example, running a…

DIY Cloud How to Set Up a Cloud Solution Using a Home NAS How to Set Up a Cloud Solution Using a Home NAS Creating your own NAS-based cloud server is remarkably easy, thanks to the modern operating systems and apps available for a NAS drive. In this example we’re going to use a Synology NAS fitted with a pair of 6TB Seagate IronWolf hard drives. CREATING YOUR CLOUD We’ve pre-fitted the two IronWolf drives, and run through the initial setup process. Note: changes to NAS firmware and the OS can result in different screens from shown below. STEP 1 First we need to install the Cloud Station Server from the Package Center, located on the DSM desktop. In the Package Center, you’ll find the Cloud Station Server app in…

DIY Cloud Cloud Technologies: Education in the Cloud Cloud Technologies: Education in the Cloud There’s no doubt cloud computing is changing the way we work, live, entertain ourselves, and so on, so it’s logical to assume it’s going to help us, as a society, move forward in terms of education. According to Eduserv, over 35% of UK universities have adopted a cloud approach to education, and that’s set to increase significantly over the coming years. The education in the cloud concept takes on many forms. Cloud technologies are used in a variety of ways throughout the education sector; from enrolling students, to providing course materials, aiding teachers in the delivery of their lessons, and even teaching entire lessons remotely over the cloud. There’s a lot the education sector can get…

DIY Cloud How to Use Google Stadia How to Use Google Stadia With their Stadia project, Google hopes to revolutionise how we play games in the home and on the move. Their vision for the future is one where it is possible to play games on virtually any hardware without the need for expensive consoles or high-end desktops. Let’s take a look at the hardware and explain how it works. STADIA SPEED TEST Before you begin your Stadia set-up, you need to ensure that your Internet connection is fast enough. Google has provided an online tool to do just that. STEP 1 Open a web browser, preferably on the device with which you intend to use Stadia, and enter the following URL: projectstream.google.com Before you start testing your Wi-Fi speed…

Google Cloud Hardware Guides Google Home Tips and Tricks Google Home Tips and Tricks Your Google Home speaker is great for playing music or listening to the news, but it also allows you to do so much more! From getting general info, reading a recipe and finding your phone, to playing a game or telling you a joke, there are literally 100’s of things it can do; here’s 10 of the best. Listen to Audio ❱ Your Google Home allows you to listen to music, news, podcasts, radio stations, audio books and more. You can also tell it to play ambient sounds in the background. Just say, “Hey Google, help me relax,” or “Hey Google, play forest/nature/ocean sounds.” You can even make it play white noise! Plan Your Day ❱…

What is Cloud Computing? The Definition of the Cloud The Definition of the Cloud What is the cloud? Where is it? What can you do with it? How does it work? These are questions that both home and business users ask regularly. The term ‘cloud computing’ has been bandied about for so long, it’s become just another technology phrase. But what does it really mean? SILVER LININGS The meaning of the cloud has changed somewhat in recent years, more as it became the new buzzword that pundits and marketing executives liked to throw about. In its most basic, layman’s terms, cloud computing is simply accessing a form of digital resource, or service, that isn’t installed locally on your computer. For the home, consumer user, that could mean accessing Gmail, Google…

What is Cloud Computing? Types of Cloud Services Types of Cloud Services The cloud offers different services based on what the user or company demands. Its most basic use is simple storage, as seen in Google Drive, Dropbox etc. Its design, however, also means that the technology can become remarkably complex the more you delve into it. ON-DEMAND AVAILABILITY Cloud services come in many guises and bewildering acronyms. Here are ten of the more popular cloud services and what they mean exactly. GAAS GASS (Gaming As A Service) is set to take more of a foothold in 2020, with the launch of Google Stadia and Microsoft’s Project xCloud; enabling the player to launch any title in the company’s library and play them on various devices (PC, tablet, phone etc.) over…

What is Cloud Computing? Anatomy of the Cloud Anatomy of the Cloud Talking about connected technologies, all accessing a central cloud infrastructure across several geo-redundant datacentres can be a little difficult to visualise. How is it all connected, where do you and your computer or device fit into the big picture? CLOUD STRUCTURES Let’s take a moment to build the anatomy of the cloud from the ground up. Starting with you, the user, sat in front of your computer or device. STEP 1 While connecting to a cloud resource may seem seamless, there’s actually a lot going on in between you and where the actual item you’re viewing is stored. Starting with you, either as a home user or in the workplace, there’s the PCs, Macs, tablets and so on…

Top Cloud Storage Providers Google Drive Google Drive Google Drive was launched on April 24th 2012, which makes it one of the longest-running cloud storage solutions. It’s crossplatform, easily implemented into Google’s other apps, and offers the user a choice of storage capacities; from the free 15GB through to 30+ terabytes, via optional payment plans. There’s no escaping the fact Google has pretty much become a synonym for the Internet; with over 2.5 billion active accounts recorded in 2019, the service is set to grow considerably over the coming years. Google’s storage solution, Drive, is just one element of the company’s cloud services, but it sits at the core of everything. Back in 2018, Google announced that Drive had stored over 2 trillion files, in 2019, the company was a…

Top Cloud Storage Providers MEGA MEGA MEGA Storage was founded in 2013, by none other than the infamous Kim Dotcom after his MegaUpload range of servers were shut down due to copyright infringement accusations. Shortly after Dotcom severed ties with MEGA, and the company has moved on to become one of the more respected privacy-based cloud services available. Despite its founder’s notoriety, MEGA doesn’t seem to have suffered any bad press since Dotcom split. In fact, it’s quite the opposite, thanks to the service’s policy of zero-knowledge of what’s stored on its servers, heavy encryption, two-factor authentication and utilising the user’s password as the root encryption key. Details are difficult to obtain; however, the company has stated that over 125 million users enjoy the convenience of MEGA’s enhanced security, as…

Top Cloud Storage Providers OneDrive OneDrive Microsoft’s OneDrive started life as Windows Live Folders back in 2007 but was renamed shortly after to Windows Live SkyDrive. The service has seen many facelifts over the following years, adding new features and integrating itself seamlessly with Office while improving its overall UI. The SkyDrive name was dropped in 2014 due to a lawsuit involving BskyB, for using the word Sky. The high court ruled that Microsoft had breached BskyB’s trademark, and as such, the Redmond Company redesigned its cloud service together with a new name: OneDrive. Initially, Microsoft offered its free users 10GB of storage, increasing it to as much as 25GB in 2008, but when it was redesigned in 2015, the amount dropped to 5GB of storage for free use. In…

Google Cloud – In Focus Google’s Cloud Apps Google’s Cloud Apps Google has invested billions into building and delivering a range of cloud-based services and apps for the home and office. Email, document editing, spreadsheet creation, website building, storage and collaborations are all covered with an easy to use and familiar interface. Google is famous, or rather infamous, for pumping millions into the next big project only to drop it after a few years, or even less in some circumstances. Take Google+ for example, a service that was to be Google’s answer to Facebook. While good, it never really enjoyed the kind of virtual footfall that Facebook ever did, and as such Google closed it down mid-2019. Imagine if you’d invested time and effort to create a personal, or work-based…

Google Cloud – In Focus Calendar Google’s Calendar cloud app can do far more than simply letting you know when your doctor’s appointment is due. With it, you can share multiple calendars, create countdown timers, receive daily agendas to your inbox and much more. ADD CALENDARS You can add another Google account user’s Calendar to your views easily by clicking on the ‘Add a Friend’s Calendar’ box, under the Other Calendars option. This launches a separate window, which sends a message to the other user’s mail account requesting permission VIDEO CALLS It’s surprisingly easy to add a video call to any Calendar appointment. All you need to do is click on the Create button in Calendar, set up the event, and click Add Video Call. When the invitees receive their…

Sheets/Photos Photos We live in a world where most of us now carry around a reasonably powerful digital camera. Our smartphones are regularly used to take images of events and important times in our lives. It’s important, then, that they are backed up to a cloud service. BACKUPS Automatic backups are important to many users, particularly of their images. Imagine taking an important picture, only to drop your device into the sea moments later. Providing you have a good connection, that image is backed-up and categorised with a time and date stamp. EDITING Each image stored in Photos is editable with a number of filters, along with altering the contrast and colours and rotating. The effects are minimal, but with the right image, they can be quite stunning. METADATA You…

Google Cloud – In Focus Cloud Technologies: The Environment Cloud Technologies: The Environment To paraphrase Morpheus from the film, The Matrix, “The cloud is everywhere; it is all around us”. While that may sound sinister, it simply means that cloud technologies have become such a huge part of our everyday lives that it’s difficult to find areas where they aren’t involved. But rather than focusing on how all-consuming and nefarious the cloud sounds, let’s look at how the cloud has helped push technology past previous limits and into a brighter future. When we look at cloud technologies, we normally think of how it enables collaboration, reduces the cost of digital ownership, ease of access, simplified management and the ability to securely store content. One aspect, however, that’s often overlooked is the…

OneDrive/Office 365 Office 365 Office 365 is a hybrid solution, in that it’s cloud-based while still being installed on your computer; think of it as offering the best of both worlds. It’s the most-used productivity suite in the world, which the company strives, constantly, to improve and modernise for the current generation of mobile users. PRICING As Microsoft Office 365 is subscription-based, it means that your versions of the individual apps: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and so on, are always going to be updated to the latest release. So there’s no concern over compatibility, across versions, with other Office 365 users. SUBSCRIPTIONS What’s more, with the Home Subscription you get Office 365 for PC, Mac, tablets and phones (for up to five users in your home) plus, with the company’s OneDrive…

Dropbox Cloud – In Focus What are Dropbox Cloud Apps? What are Dropbox Cloud Apps? The San Francisco based Dropbox started life back in 2007 as a start-up company developed by a couple of MIT students. Since its release to the public in 2009, the company has grown to be one of the most used cloud services in the world. BOXED CLOUDS Dropbox has a worth somewhere in the region of $10 billion and a user base of over 500 million. Thanks to its newly implemented features and ease of use, it’s not difficult to see why. FILES The most used feature of Dropbox, and its primary purpose, is the cloud storage functionality. You get 2GB free when signing up for an account, but, with various incentives, you’re able to…

Dropbox Cloud – In Focus Dropbox Paper Dropbox Paper launched in 2015 and, to quote Dropbox itself, “is more than a doc, Dropbox Paper is a flexible workspace that brings people and ideas together”. It’s where you can create content to share and work with others. TEMPLATES You can create a new blank document from within Dropbox Paper or opt for one of three, already available, templates: Brainstorm, Project Overview and Meeting Notes. All documents are personal until you choose to share them. TOPICS The Templates are nicely laid out and easy to follow. Depending on the one you’ve launched, it’s just a matter of editing the content that’s already present and substituting it with your own words and ideas. AUTO LAYOUT Depending on what content you enter, Dropbox Paper…

Dropbox Cloud – In Focus How to Use Dropbox Sharing How to Use Dropbox Sharing Cross organisation projects and sharing files and folders with friends and family members is one of Dropbox’s key features. It’s something that Dropbox has worked on to make as easy as possible; removing the previous Team link and focusing instead on consumer-level sharing. TEAM CLOUDS Using Dropbox Sharing is remarkably easy. It’s quick to set up, simple to understand and implement and yet can be quite powerful when used with other members. STEP 1 To get started with Dropbox Sharing, locate and click on the Sharing link in the Dropbox interface sidebar. This will launch the currently shared files and folders set up page, with some brief but handy feature information. STEP 2 Let’s start…

iCloud Desktop Documents & Folders/The Future of iCloud The Future of iCloud Apple’s iCloud has improved significantly over the years and is now considered one of the leading examples of cloud technologies. As we’ve already seen, the service encompasses everything an Apple user does, but what could be in store for iCloud in the coming years? Apple is going to be investing a considerable amount of time throughout 2020, upgrading its leading products, including the likes of tvOS 14 and newer versions of macOS. The iPhone 12, due for release later in 2020, will see significant improvements in AR experiences, and more. There’s also the rumour of an updated Apple TV, or Set-Top Box, which would make for some interesting predictions of how iCloud will function in the future. APPLE…

Cloud for Business Team Collaboration Cloud Examples Team Collaboration Cloud Examples The ability to work together on a single project, no matter where you are in the world, is what communications technology was originally designed for; consider John McCarthy’s concepts from the 50s. Finding the right tool for the right job, though, requires some research. WORKING TOGETHER There are countless cloud collaboration services available, which can be quite bewildering. Here are ten proven business solutions to help you fine-tune your choice of provider. DROPBOX BUSINESS One of the more popular cloud collaborations services available for businesses is from Dropbox. With companies such as National Geographic, University of Cambridge, AA and more, the service is designed to scale and grow as your collaboration with others does. CITRIX SHAREFILE Citrix has a…

Cloud for Business Data Management Cloud Examples Data Management Cloud Examples Data management in the cloud is more than just online storage. A good data management cloud service offers multiple platform access, collaborations, sharing, syncing with devices and operating systems, as well as good value for money and a secure digital environment. DATA CLOUDS Cloud storage can greatly improve a business’s operation by offering unlimited access to its data, from anywhere and at any time. There are countless services available, so here are ten for your consideration. DROPBOX The business side of Dropbox is one of the top, cloud storage choices for the SMB user. It’s priced competitively, offers storage, centralised administration and better management of your online documents. SUGARSYNC SugarSync has been a great value cloud storage provider for…

Cloud for Business Public Cloud Benefits Public Cloud Benefits Public clouds are the standard cloud models, whereby a service provider makes its resources available to the public, and multiple clients, over the Internet – hence Public Cloud. Google Drive, Microsoft Office 365, and so on are all examples of a public cloud. THE PUBLIC CLOUD So, what are the benefits of using Public cloud computing over traditional setups, private or hybrid clouds? Let’s have a look at what the public cloud model has to offer the SMB user. PAY AS YOU GO One of the main benefits of the public cloud is that it’s decidedly cheaper to set up than dedicated, in-house hardware, software and everything else. Public cloud servers and space is rented, and therefore you’ll only pay for…

DIY Cloud Why Would You Consider a Do It Yourself Cloud? Why Would You Consider a Do It Yourself Cloud? While using one of the many services available is perfectly fine, a small business or home user may want a little more than the service is offering. That little extra could come in the form of far more space without monthly payments or complete control over the cloud contents. YOUR VERY OWN CLOUD In such circumstances, having your own cloud is preferable to that of using one of the current solutions. A home user, for example, can set up their own cloud with the computer hardware they already own; making it available for friends and family to access, or just for their own private use. Likewise, a business can opt…

DIY Cloud Virtualisation for SMB/SME Users Virtualisation for SMB/SME Users Virtualisation for the home user is certainly beneficial, in some respects. However, virtualisation in the cloud for the business user can be a far more powerful tool. Cost savings, remote working, support and security are all achievable with a hosted, virtual cloud desktop service. DESKTOP AS A SERVICE For business, many of the benefits of virtualisation in the cloud cross over with those of the home user; however, for a business, those benefits can yield great advantages over the competition. REMOTE WORKING Remote workers can help make substantial savings across the entire business. You don’t need to provide office space, or the power costs therein, and you can reduce software and hardware costs. Aside from these savings, your workers can…

DIY Cloud How to Set Up a Cloud Solution Using a Business NAS How to Set Up a Cloud Solution Using a Business NAS Setting up a cloud server on a business NAS is very similar to that of the home NAS user. The web-based administration of a NAS drive makes it incredibly simple to configure and use. In this example, we’re using a Buffalo TeraStation. CREATING YOUR CLOUD The Buffalo TeraStation we’re using is updated to the latest firmware and has cycled through the initial set up process. Note: Changes to models can alter the screenshots and steps below. STEP 1 Log in to the Buffalo TeraStation admin page. When loaded, click on the File Sharing link in the left-hand sidebar, followed by the link button to the far…

DIY Cloud Where Next for the Cloud? Where Next for the Cloud? The cloud has moved on from being the latest buzzword to a modern user’s must-have service. SMBs and large-scale enterprise organisations would probably admit to being so reliant on cloud services that their companies wouldn’t exist without it. So, what’s next for cloud technology? RISE OF THE MACHINES Big Data, AI, Machine Learning, cavernous datacentres and quantum computing are all terms bandied about when it comes to discussing the future of the cloud. In truth, no one really knows which direction cloud technologies will take over the next five to ten years. However, it’s generally agreed that the aforementioned terms will play a big role in defining what the future of the cloud will look like. Cloud technologies…

DIY Cloud Glossary of Cloud Terms Glossary of Cloud Terms There are a number of confusing and bewildering terms used in technology, and, since the cloud became a real thing, those terms have expanded to encompass everything we do both online and in a cloud service. CLEAR SKIES AHEAD Here’s a quick list of some of the terms you’re likely to come across as you explore cloud technologies further. Needless to say, the industry loves its terminology, so expect many more as you delve deeper into this sphere. AGILITY Refers to the faster implementation of IT within a company, specifically cloud implementation; Often referenced when a company moves from in-house to cloud technologies particularly quickly. AIRFRAME An open-source cloud platform that targets businesses in the thinking stage of adopting a…