Brief History of Cloud-Based Software
“Cloud computing” can be traced back to 1969 when J. C. R. Licklider promoted a vision called the “Intergalactic Computer Network,” in which everyone on the planet could be connected and access information from anywhere.¹ “Cloud computing” began to gain popularity in the late 1990s with Salesforce being the first company to offer software via the internet. Large companies like Google and Microsoft began using “the cloud” to describe the new way in which people could access software and files over the Web rather than on your desktop. By 2010, the cloud was widely used for entertainment, healthcare, banking, and government.²
What Does the Term “Cloud-Based” Mean?
A cloud-based system is a broad term for anything that involves the delivery of hosted services via the internet.² This means your data is stored in “the cloud” rather than in your on-site server. A cloud can be either private for a single organization, or public for anybody with access to the internet.
Private vs. Public Clouds
Public clouds are the most common type of cloud computing. The resources are owned and operated by a third-party service provider and delivered over the internet. With a public cloud, all hardware, software, and other supporting infrastructure are owned and managed by the cloud provider. In a public cloud, you share these resources with other “tenants,” and you access services using a web browser.³
A private cloud consists of resources used exclusively by organization. The private cloud can be physically located on-site at your business or organization, or it can be hosted by a third-party service elsewhere. But in a private cloud, the services are always maintained on a private network and is dedicated solely to your organization.³
Is Cloud-Based Software Secure?
Historically, businesses have been reluctant to migrate to the cloud due to security reasons and that is one of the main concerns we hear often while talking to potential clients. However, please consider where you currently store your sensitive emails and texts. Do you utilize online or mobile app banking? Have you ever ordered anything from Amazon? If so, you are already trusting the cloud with sensitive and personal information.
Moving your data to a reputable host provides a level of security that can’t be duplicated on site due to many reasons, including:
Automatic Backups
When you move to the cloud, your data is stored securely in multiple independent data centers. So if one data center goes down, your data will migrate to another center automatically. Most on-site systems may only have two physical servers that automatically migrate over to one another, which isn’t helpful if there’s a natural disaster or a large network outage.⁴
Network Separation
The separation from user workstations is a considerable advantage of the cloud over on-site servers. The most common way hackers get into networks is through “phishing” and email threats. The attacks almost always enter through user workstations and not from the server. When you host in the cloud, all of your workstations are segmented, and users are not on the corporate network where the data lives.⁴
Natural Disasters
Your on-site server can’t compete with Mother Nature. If and when a natural disaster hits your business, your server is at a high risk of being affected. With the automatic backups of cloud-based system, your data will be migrated to multiple data centers to ensure your data won’t be lost.
The RxBlu Experience
Pharmacies using RxBlu enjoy the simplified and lightning fast filling process that operates 100% in the cloud. Your data is secured off-site in the cloud with automated nightly backups that can be restored within minutes. Your software can be securely accessed anywhere you are with mobile connectivity when needed.
When it comes to pharmacy software, too much of it is outdated except for changes required by law. Are you able to do business this way? Sure. But why settle for that? Instead, choose to become a leader in the industry with our cutting-edge software! Learn more about our solutions here, or contact us to schedule a consultation!
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