By Sachin Kumar
DOHA: Cloud computing is gaining momentum in Qatar. Microsoft, a major players in Qatar’s software industry, has seen over 70,000 users for its cloud services in the last two years. “There are currently 70,000 commercial users in Qatar who are using Microsoft cloud services such as Microsoft Office 365, Azure or CRM Online. It is encouraging response given the fact that we launched cloud around two years back in Qatar,” said Naim Yazbeck, General Manager, Microsoft Qatar.
Cloud computing is a kind of internet-based computing, where shared resources, data and information are provided to computers and other devices. It is also known as ‘on-demand computing’. Cloud computing and storage solutions provide users and enterprises with various capabilities to store and process their data in third-party data centres. It relies on sharing of resources for coherence and economies of scale.
“Cloud computing is very cost effective and very simple to use. A lot of applications are becoming cloud based. If you do not use cloud you cannot use them. So these applications are pushing you to go cloud based,” said Yazbeck.
According to experts, usage of cloud computing will rise sharply and the user base in Qatar is likely to double in next two years. “I expect the cloud usage in Qatar to double in next 18-24 months. This is the business doubling every year,” said Yazbeck. “In tough economy it will grow even faster because it is the only way to save money,” he added.
Availability of high-capacity networks, low-cost computers and storage devices as well as the widespread adoption of hardware virtualisation and service-oriented architecture is leading to growth in cloud computing. Companies can scale up as computing needs increase and then scale down again as demands decrease. “Going forward the cost per users will continue to go down. The reality is that those mega scale data centres will be managed much more cost effective ways which will drive the cost per user down,” added Yazbeck.
Cloud computing has become a highly demanded service or utility due to the advantages of high computing power, cheap cost of services, high performance, scalability, accessibility as well as availability.
“Reality is everything will be on cloud, the whole computing will be on cloud. Cloud computing will reduce the maintenance on ICT (Information, Communication, Technology) in general and will let organistations use this money to use on business growth,” added Yazbeck.
THe Peninsula
