Cloud Computing Explained

You've probably heard a lot over the past few months about cloud computing and storage, but you may not understand what it is, exactly. But, as we have seen with the surge in popularity for mobile internet, cloud computing may very well be the wave of the future for how we store and use information.

Rivka Tadjer, a writer and technology expert from PCMag.com, put the concept of cloud computing well.

"Imagine being able to access all of your personal data at any given moment," he writes. "Imagine having the ability to organize and mine data from any online source. Imagine being able to share that data - photos, movies, contacts, e-mail, documents, etc. - with your friends, family and coworkers in an instant. This is what personal cloud computing promises to deliver."

The benefits of cloud computing are numerous - you have an infinite amount of space to store your personal information, it can be accessed anywhere with internet and you can share it with whomever you choose.

For businesses in particular, cloud computing has become very popular in the recent months. Not only is file storage in the cloud better for the environment, it's also more secure should anything happen to the print versions of important documents. Plus, business owners can allow employees to access the data remotely, making it easier to work from anywhere.

To do so, this data must be synced up with mobile devices such as Smartphones or tablet computers. Cloud computing companies can help set up personal cloud storage or larger cloud computing options for businesses and other organizations, too. By investing in cloud computing technology, you can not only make accessing and sharing information much more easier, but you can also save time and money for yourself or your business in the future.

Apple is one example of easy cloud computing. On your iPhone, iPad or Mac, iCloud, when enabled, will seemingly sync your Safari bookmarks, Key Chain passwords, iWorks docs, photos and more across all your devices.

Dropbox is also a good, and free, option for basic cloud computing. It will sync your select files and pics across your devices.