The Spread of Cloud Computing

    The Cloud seems to be everywhere today in every device and a part of every website (whether we see it or not). But this was not always the case. So how did cloud computing become so popular? According to Roger's Diffusion of Innovations Theory, there are a lot of factors that go into answering this question. 

    The most important factor is "relative advantage". What were the perceived advantages of the Cloud that made it spread to every sector of our tech society? For businesses, there are 12 relative advantages to cloud computing which include: cost savings, security, flexibility, mobility, insight, increased collaboration, quality control, disaster recovery, loss prevention, automatic software updates, competitive edge, and sustainability. These factors caused businesses to be the first adopters of this technology because it had so many advantages. It made almost every factor of a business more productive, more cost-effective, easier, and faster. 

    But what about for individuals? How could the Cloud be helpful for personal use? Well, many of the factors that enticed businesses also apply to individuals. It allowed people to use software programs without having to download them onto their personal machines. It has also allowed people to create and manage their own technology or websites without having to have huge databases. And most important to the average person, it allowed people to store and view our content on the Internet from anywhere. This is what drove normal individuals to be the next adopters of this technology after major businesses. But this did not happen until around 2010 when private clouds were fully established. 

    The next couple of factors such as compatibility, complexity, and potential for reinvention can all be summed up shortly. Cloud computing was compatible became compatible with many systems as its popularity and use grew. Originally, cloud computing was running on its own systems, but over time cloud computing became integrated into existing systems without many users even knowing. Think of any autosave feature on a website, that is made possible because of the Cloud. And even when new systems were created especially for cloud services like Google Docs, those systems were similar enough to other systems, like Microsoft Word in this case, that users found the switch easy.    

    The Cloud has already been expanded and reinvented since its creation in the 1990s. The cloud started with just public servers and usage, mostly by businesses. But then around 2010, the cloud shifted to now having private cloud servers which could still be used by businesses, but also ordinary people. And now there are hybrid clouds, which have both public and private cloud servers and can be used in both areas effectively. 

    As for the effects of the Cloud, there are too many to count. The Cloud has entered nearly every area where technology is used today. It is in education, health, navigation, the economy, and even in our social circles. Students today are more educated because they can access data anywhere at any time. It has also specifically helped students in less developed countries because they have access to educational resources at a lower cost. It has allowed medical professionals to manage and share patient data with other medical institutions and the patients themselves with ease. Many patients can even get their results on their phones as soon as they are released. Almost all modern navigation systems use the cloud in some capacity, which allows them to update regularly and keep users on track. And the Cloud is part of why our world is so interconnected today. Most social media sites run on and use the Cloud for their systems. They have allowed people to reach across the globe and connect with others all from the comfort of their own homes. 

    There are so many positives to cloud computing, it is no wonder it caught on so well. There are really very few downsides to cloud computing. The one most people are worried about is security.  Because the Cloud can be accessed nearly anywhere with the Internet, it is reasonable for many people to assume that others could access their information anywhere too. No one wants their personal information to be known, or worse, used by someone else. The same applies to businesses that don't want their secrets and information getting out just because someone was able to view their stored data. The only other issue is that if something were to happen to the Cloud then most of our infrastructure today would be in danger because so much of it runs on the Cloud. In an age where hackers are getting better and tensions are higher, this is a very scary thought that could turn people away from using the Cloud.