Originally published in AICC Boxscore's January/February 2015 Issue
As the director of marketing at Amtech Software, I use cloud-based services on a daily basis. Whether it’s for file storage (Dropbox), creative design (Adobe Creative Suite), or website development and content distribution (HubSpot), cloud-based software provides the resources necessary to communicate and collaborate with my team.
So what is the cloud, exactly? More than a fancy tech-industry buzzword, the cloud allows users to communicate with a network of remote servers that provides anything from data storage to software applications and online access. The term “cloud” dates back to the 1960s, stemming from the original use of a cloud-shaped symbol on flow charts and diagrams to symbolize the Internet. It may have taken 50 years, but the concept has come to fruition, and it is delivering significant advantages for business leaders who are willing to take the leap.