What are Cloud Computing Applications & How Does it Work?

| Updated on February 13, 2024

Do you still trouble yourself to find tactics and ways that will best help your business grow? After all, in this technically transforming world, creating user-friendly apps is just not it. You need to look into the ongoing trends and latest developments in the technology sector that best assist your business to grow. 

One similar introduction of a technology called ‘cloud applications’ into the market has led to a rise in profits of businesses across the globe. So, why wait? Let’s know what exactly it is and how your business will benefit from it. 

What Do You Mean by Cloud-hosted Apps?

Cloud applications are the apps that make use of the internet and servers for the role of logic processing at the time when users access the same. It is not solely dependent on or executed with the help of user systems and requires additional processing. 

Herein, both the local and the cloud-based channels work together to process a result more comprehensively. Cloud-hosted applications are not only secure and centrally managed but user-friendly too, which most businesses crave to employ. 

Moving ahead, let us get to know about the top uses of cloud apps that you should know about. 

How Can Cloud Applications Be Used? 

Drop down of the uses of Cloud computing with images only

Cloud apps are versatile and have various beneficial aspects that lead to business growth. It is not just limited to a name or technology, and knowing what it’s worth is a must! So, below, you have a list of a few of the many tasks that can be executed with the use of cloud-based applications.

  1. Sending mails: Using the email service with cloud-based apps, allows you to have an individual mailbox with varied tools.
  1. File storage and sharing: Cloud apps offer secure storage of all kinds of files and emails remotely. Access to the same is convenient and hassle-free. 
  1. Inventory management: Cloud apps help businesses avoid errors in case of manual work. It enables you to make changes to the system according to your individual needs remotely. 
  1. Customer relationship management (CRM): Cloud computing helps you and your team access information all at the same time. It is like a hub of data that helps avoid misunderstandings among team members, whether working remotely or from the office. 
  1. Data collection: The cloud helps you collect all your data at one single point and avoid complications at the time you’d want to access them.

As the use of cloud applications in different categories is now clear, let’s see what role they play in businesses and if they can help. 

How Does a Cloud Application Help Businesses?

Cloud-based apps have been known to attract the limelight over the years due to the many advantages they possess over the other existing frameworks. Let us get to know the top 7 reasons why you should prefer cloud apps over any other for your business prosperity and growth at the time:

1. Enhanced Business Functioning

Cloud-hosted applications are well-known to be easily updated, tested, and deployed in no time, adding convenience to the business’s functioning. The new tests and trials no longer need to wait or come to a halt and instead take an immediate stride, leading to profit gains.

2. Cuts Down The Infrastructure Expense

The cloud computing framework adds to the efficiency of the business by offering the best storage or server storage, unlike in the case of traditional server apps. This not only cuts down the expense of physical infrastructure as needed in the case of server apps but makes the accessibility to information smoother and more convenient. 

3. Scalability

The amount of available capacity to store and manage data and information can be changed as demand fluctuates. Unlike manual functioning, you do not have to limit the storage, as the cloud enables you to change the capacity according to your needs. 

4. Use of Programming Interface

An Application Programming Interface (API) is required to gain access to stored services and data from third parties. Cloud applications can be kept more modest by using APIs to hand information to applications for examining calculations, with the outcomes given back to the cloud application. 

5. Better Management of Data

The Cloud-based applications offer secure backups to the existing data in case of loss or breach. Unlike in the case of physical storage, you no longer have to worry about lost information, as access to the same is just a few clicks away. 

6. Cost Reduction

The prices for cloud-based apps have fallen over time due to their high demand and efficiency across the globe. However, the same does not hold for physical infrastructure that needs constant rents, and prices hardly fall. Thus, operating and maintaining cloud-hosted apps can be cheaper when compared to other alternatives, yet highly effective. 

7. Enhanced Security

Cloud-managed apps are known to be reliable and verified by numerous clients across the globe. Businesses put their faith in cloud apps for better security and management of data. The automatic maintenance and security features add to the reliability of cloud-based applications when compared to others. 

Now that you know and understand how cloud apps can benefit your business in the competitive world, you must also understand the limitations that come along. Moving ahead, let us know about the same and thus manage ourselves to decide on a profitable selection amongst apps.

What Limits the Cloud Applications?

The limitation of cloud apps, despite being fewer, could bring drastic changes to your plan if not handled in the right manner. To do so, you first should know what exactly the drawbacks are, and then prioritize your functioning and operations accordingly. 

The following are the reasons that lead to the limitations of cloud apps in the present times: 

1) Internet Connectivity 

In cloud computing, every piece of data (images, audio, video) is stored in the cloud, and we use our internet connection to access the same. One will not be able to access these data if they do not have reliable internet connectivity. And further, he/she will be unable to access data from the cloud in any other way.

2) Vendor Lock-in 

The most significant drawback of cloud computing is vendor lock-in. When moving your services from one vendor to another, you may encounter considerable issues. It can be challenging to move from one cloud to another because different vendors offer different platforms, thus, limiting the advantages of cloud computing. 

3) Limited Control 

The fact that the data and information stored on the cloud are entirely managed and operated by the service provider lays down limitations on the amount of control you as a user have over it. As a result of this management and operational access to the provider, cloud users like you will have less control over how services in a cloud infrastructure work and are carried out.

4) Safety 

Even though cloud service providers use the most advanced security measures when storing critical data, you should be aware that your organization will be transferring all of its sensitive data to a third party: a cloud computing service provider, before implementing cloud technology. While sending the information to the cloud, there might be an instance where your company’s data is hacked by hackers or programmers.

Now that you know both the pros and cons of cloud apps, you might be wondering what other options you have. So here’s explained the comparison amongst the most prominent types, namely: desktop, cloud, and web apps altogether. 

Comparing Web, Desktop, and Cloud Applications

Web, Cloud, and Desktop apps are the most prominent classifications of applications available to users at the time. Each of them has its unique functioning and features. But do you know why exactly we should prefer cloud apps over the other two? Let us know now!

comparing the 3 types: web desktop and cloud apps 

Cloud-Based v/s Web-Based Applications

The common difference between web-based and cloud-based apps involves the use of an internet connection, but there’s more to it. Here is a thorough explanation of all you need while comparing the two: 

  • Web apps require constant internet access to process the input data, while cloud apps do not. The cloud-hosted applications are proficient enough to process data in case they are locally installed on the system without any access to the connection. 
  • One can access web apps only through web browsers. Cloud apps on the other hand can be downloaded and installed on the local system for continual use. 
  • Cloud apps owing to a more complex framework allow better security features and uninterrupted use. However, web apps are used with access to web browsers, making the process comparatively less reliable and secure. 
  • Cloud apps ensure encryption, firewalls, and defined access control, adding to the security protocols. However, web apps require mere authentication and authorization. 

With these points of differences between cloud-based and web-based apps, it is clear that each type has its own respective way of functioning. Another major comparison that is often made is between desktop apps and cloud server apps. Some points for it are given in the following section.

Desktop Apps v/s Cloud Server Applications

Desktop apps are the ones that we’re all aware of because they are the ones that differ according to the system we have. Every type has particular apps that one may or may not find on the other. So here’s a comparison of desktop and cloud apps for your reference:

  • Desktop apps are meant to be designed for a particular type of device, while cloud apps are accessible on any hardware device.  
  • The data with desktop apps are stored on the system itself, making it liable to breach and loss in case the system itself faces an issue. However, cloud apps store data remotely on the cloud system, allowing secure and accessible data at all times.
  • Cloud apps allow their users to use only the version available on the cloud at times, unlike desktop apps that create version access issues for the users. Each version of a desktop app requires independent installation, enabling disturbance with technical support and accessibility top features. 

Now that we know the comparing features amongst the web, cloud, and desktop applications, let us have a look at their examples:

  • Web Applications: Google Docs (from MS Office), eBay (famous e-commerce platform), SBI YONO (e-banking), Netflix (online streaming).
  • Cloud Apps: Evernote (for daily tasks), Salesforce (CRM), Dropbox, Gmail, and Outlook.
  • Desktop apps: Windows File Explorer, VLC Media Player, MS Office.

So till now, you would have probably discovered what apps on your system are cloud, desktop, or web. It’s time we look at the testing of newly discovered cloud apps and get to know why the testing is really important. 

Why Do You Need to Test Cloud-based Applications?

Cloud apps must be tested before being deployed for use, to guarantee security and optimal performance. After all, you wish to improve the existing business applications for better ones!

The containers involved multiply over time, making the testing a bit complex. However, each container must be tested for its performance, security, and accuracy, as well as managed, cataloged, and secured. 

The two types of cloud application security testing are namely: 

  1. Data testing
  2. Penetration testing

But how exactly are the cloud apps tested? Let us know now!

How Can You Test Cloud-based Apps?

The testing and trial of cloud-based applications thus become unavoidable to avoid any error at the time of processing and using the app. The testing process for cloud apps will be further required to follow the rules set by a specific third-party provider to ensure effectiveness.

  • A cloud application must take into account the possibility of simultaneously accessing data from multiple sources and internet communications with multiple clouds. 
  • With Application Programming Interface (API), a cloud application might depend on other cloud administrations for specific handling. In this multi-cloud, multisource, and multi-provider ecosystem, automated testing can be of great benefit and use.
  • Additional levels incorporated in testing, potential points of failure, and communication have been introduced as a result of the maturation of container and microservices technologies. 

This was the entire explanation of what exactly is cloud app testing, making it an important part to remember for flawless functioning and avoid errors at any point in time. 

Conclusion

Now that you have understood the basic use of cloud applications and the benefits they bring along in the management sector, it becomes necessary to also understand why you require cloud-based apps for your specific business. And what are the different types of cloud computing services you can employ? All of this needs ideal understanding, and the business will see considerable growth in no time! 


Janvi Panthri

Senior Writer, Editor


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