In basic terms, cloud management is a term given to the task of managing and monitoring services using a remote server. Through cloud management, the user can access data, software and storage services without needing to know the location of the server that provides these services. The user can utilise specific services that are relevant to them, without having to use applications that hold no relevance to the project. Since cloud management is a general term referring to a number of cloud services and their tasks, let’s take a look at the specific areas covered by cloud management.

Control

Cloud management allows users to effectively manage and control their services across both public and private clouds. You can access all your cloud resources in private and public clouds and govern them as you see fit.

Organisation

With the constantly changing cloud infrastructure, the task of keeping an organised track record is difficult. Fortunately, cloud management allows you to easily manage and organise specific cloud infrastructure. It gives you the power of defining the components of your server and applying it to specific infrastructure. The automation provided by cloud management is quite impressive and useful for businesses.

Cost

Cloud management software provides you with the necessary tools to monitor and analyse the spending and saving of money on particular infrastructure. This enables you to implement an effective budget plan that can be revised/altered to suit your business.

Security

Security is a crucial aspect of cloud management software. It provides you with security tools that allow you to manage and monitor any loop holes that may exist. Breaches of security can be quickly resolved and security can be strengthened by utilising cloud management software.

Disaster Recovery

Through cloud management, you can effectively prepare for failure by developing a backup plan. By utilising cloud management tools you can schedule regular backups and formulate a backup plan in the case of a disaster.

Overall, the term cloud management refers to a range of services, including: Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS) and Software as a Service (SaaS). VMware cloud hosting services also offer cloud management tools. The range of management tools provided varies from company to company, with some companies even providing comprehensive cloud management tools that cover the entire process of managing a number of operating systems on one server.

A successful cloud management strategy is one that maximises performance and ensures that the server is secure and equipped with a useful disaster recovery plan. It is vital to have a cloud management strategy in place for every business as it significantly reduces cost by allowing companies to monitor the services they use. Of course, for it to be effective the business needs to select the appropriate cloud management tools that are relevant to the cloud services it utilises.

An article by Zuhair Siddiqui, questwriting on behalf of Commensus. Commensus UK offers efficiently managed cloud hosting services in the UK.