What Is Cloud Computing? A Simple Guide to Cloud Services in the UAE and Saudi Arabia

Understanding the Cloud in Simple Terms

People often say they store their data in the “cloud” and companies like to say they’re “moving to the cloud” as if it’s some sophisticated and serious idea, yet it remains very vague.

For a long time, I thought ‘the cloud’ was some strange digital space floating up above and holding my information. The truth is far more straightforward:

At the end of the day, ‘cloud computing’ is storing your data on the internet rather than on a local hard drive or USB drive. If you have an internet connection, you can access and open it from virtually anywhere. Voila.

So what is the cloud really?

What I like to tell people when explaining the concept is ‘imagine a storage unit’. You can go back and access it whenever you like, you have the ability to add, remove, and share its contents, etc. You can still access it whenever and as often as you like.

That storage unit is ‘the cloud’.

Your business applications, videos, documents and pictures are stored on servers in big data centers. While you're using these servers, you do not see these data centers or manage them. You use these representatives every day without realizing them.

How Should We Understand Cloud Computing?

When you save something on the cloud, the storage location will be in one of the data centers operated by the biggest players in the cloud storage market like Google, Amazon, and Microsoft, among others. Your file does not just stay on your device.

Whenever you want to access your document on your device, it could be on your phone or laptop, you are able to do that. That's why you are able to take a picture in Dubai and access your document from your laptop or device somewhere in a different location.

All of these complex operations are done in the background to give the users a seamless experience.

GMI Research states that Saudi Arabia Cloud Computing Market size is estimated to be USD 6.4 billion by the year 2032. Therefore, it is clear to me that more and more businesses and individuals in the area are relying on cloud-based solutions. This is not just about trends. This is becoming the foundation to digital operations.

Cloud computing originated from the 1970s and 1980s when the internet began to develop. Engineers would draw an internet cloud to outline the components of the internet. Therefore, the internet cloud became known simply as the ‘cloud.’

Benefits of cloud computing are easy to identify once users begin to use the services offered.

Access From Anywhere

The greatest convenience provided by cloud computing is the fact that your files and documents are not restricted to a certain computer. It does not matter where you are as you can access and work on your documents from the office, at home, or on a work trip.

Easy to Scale

Cloud computing services can also be used to facilitate business growth. To improve the computing capacity of your cloud provider, you simply need to sign into your account and pay for the additional capacity. Businesses looking to expand throughout the Middle East, for example in Abu Dhabi and Riyadh, are not required to build physical server rooms but can continue to expand.

Lower Costs

Cloud computing is ideal for small and start-up companies as you are required to pay for the services you use. There are no large upfront costs, requiring little to no maintenance for physical servers.

Improved Collaboration

Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 make it possible for several users to edit the same document at once. No more back and forth email exchanges. Your team can work together more easily and more quickly.

Robust Protection

People are usually concerned about security. This is understandable. However, the biggest players in the cloud industry are creating and improving encryption and other security technologies. Many offer automated backups as well. Even if your computer breaks, you can always get your information.

Variety in Cloud Solutions

Not all cloud solutions are created equal. You will encounter three primary varieties.

Public Cloud

This is the most typical form of cloud service. Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure are examples of public cloud service providers. Data for different users is stored separately, but all users share the same set of computing resources.

Private Cloud

In this model, the infrastructure is set up for the exclusive use of a single organization. This results in more control, and more options for customization. Handling sensitive information is a more common reason for this choice among larger organizations.

Hybrid Cloud

This is a combination of public and private cloud services. A company may use a public cloud for less sensitive data, and a private cloud for more sensitive data. This provides the best flexibility along with good security.

Final Thoughts on Cloud Computing

At its simplest, cloud computing boils down to better storage and better access. For individuals, cloud computing offers flexibility. For companies, cloud computing offers scalable opportunities.

This is especially true in the context of the accelerating digital transformation of the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Understanding the cloud has become a prerequisite.

Just by changing your perception, you can understand the reasoning behind the cloud and and see the practicality behind it.