What does it mean to be in the cloud?
Cloud software means that the program does not live on your computer, but on servers connected to the Internet, and you use it through a browser or an app. "The cloud" is not a magical place in the sky; They are professional data centers, with security and backups, that someone else operates so you don't have to. When you use webmail, app banking, or an online spreadsheet, you're already using the cloud.
The difference with traditional desktop software is where the program and your data live. In the desktop model, you install the program on a specific machine and your data lives on that machine's hard drive. If that computer breaks down, is stolen, or gets wet, you have a serious problem. In the cloud, the program and your data live on redundant servers; Your device is just the window you look out of.
Why businesses are leaving the desktop
Change is not fashion; responds to specific limitations of the installed software that become painful as a business grows:
- Access from anywhere: in the cloud you work from the office, your home, your cell phone or a branch. On desktop, you are tied to the machine where it was installed.
- Automatic backups: the cloud backs up your data alone. On the desktop, if no one makes the backup (and they almost never do it on time), a damaged disk erases years of information.
- Painless updates: In the cloud the software updates itself and everyone uses the latest version. On the desktop, each machine must be updated by hand and different versions coexist.
- Real collaboration: several people work on the same information at the same time. On desktop, you end up emailing files to each other and fighting over "which version is good."
- Without your own infrastructure: you do not need to buy and maintain servers, nor a plant technician to take care of them.
The legitimate questions about the cloud (and the honest answers)
Moving to the cloud raises reasonable questions. It's worth answering them head-on instead of sweeping them under the rug:
- "What if the internet goes down?" It's the real disadvantage of the cloud: you need connection. You mitigate this with reliable internet and, in some cases, features that continue to operate offline and sync afterwards. Still, for most businesses the balance is in favor of the cloud.
- "Is my data safe with anyone else?" Managed well, the cloud is often more secure than a PC in your office: serious providers invest in security, encryption and backups at a level that a small business could not afford alone.
- "What if I want to leave?" A good platform lets you export your data. Before contracting, confirm that you can get your information whenever you want; That protects you from getting trapped.
What is SaaS (and why the model is right for you)
Most cloud software is offered as SaaS, which stands for "software as a service." Instead of purchasing an expensive license all at once and installing it, you pay for a subscription and use the program as you pay, with updates and support included. It is the difference between buying a car and using a transportation service: in one you are charged with the maintenance, in the other you just use it and someone else takes care of it.
For a business, the SaaS model has flow advantages: there is no giant initial investment, the cost is predictable, and if the system stops serving you, you stop paying without having wasted a fortune on licenses. Furthermore, since the supplier only wins if you stay, they have a real incentive to continue improving the product and supporting you.
Aura lives in the cloud by design
Aura is a completely cloud-based platform: you log in from any browser or device, without installing anything, without your own servers and without a technician taking care of the infrastructure. Your data is backed up and available wherever you are, and your entire team works on the same information in real time, whether in the office, in a branch or from your cell phone.
That also means no "deployment" in the traditional sense of waiting months for everything to be installed and configured. You start using the system the same day, and the improvements come automatically without you having to update anything. For a business that wants to grow without carrying the burden of maintaining technology, that is precisely the point of the cloud: that technology works for you, not the other way around.
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Start your trial →Frequently asked questions
What is cloud in simple terms?
It is using programs and saving data on Internet servers instead of on your own computer. Instead of installing software on a machine, you enter through a browser or an app from any device. Your data lives in professional data centers with security and backups, not on a hard drive that can be damaged.
Is it safe to have my data in the cloud?
Properly managed, it is usually more secure than a PC in your office. Serious providers invest in encryption, access control, and backups at a level that a small business couldn't afford on its own. The key is to choose a reliable platform and confirm that you can export your data whenever you want.
What happens if my internet goes down?
This is the real disadvantage of the cloud: you need a connection to work. It is mitigated by reliable internet and, on some systems, features that operate offline and sync later. For the vast majority of businesses, the advantages of the cloud more than offset this limitation.
What does SaaS mean?
Software as a Service: Instead of purchasing an expensive license and installing it, you pay a subscription and use the program in the cloud with updates and support included. It avoids the huge initial investment, makes the cost predictable and lets you cancel if it stops working for you.