What does the cloud mean to those who “consume” software and business services within an organization? While cloud computing may not be visible to the end user, it does provide a great deal of freedom—in fact, the same “better, faster and cheaper” benefits often discussed for IT departments, can apply with slightly different perspectives to the end user.

Let’s take a closer look at those benefits.

• Better – Cloud can provide access to more data with better tools, which enables improved decision making. We’ve already witnessed, for instance, how cloud computing has helped deliver business intelligence tools and tackle big data problems in an efficient manner.
  
• Faster – Cloud computing allows end users to take their “tools” with them. Applications and enterprise data can be delivered to the device and location of choice, eliminating the barriers of IT use established by the traditional data center model. In this traditional model, end user devices are connected to a private network, which is connected to private servers, databases and applications. With the cloud, end users are able to leverage IT whenever and wherever it’s needed, which is especially beneficial for a travelling or work-from-home workforce.
  
• Cheaper – Effective use of the cloud in connecting a workforce positively impacts both the top and bottom lines of an enterprise through improved productivity and collaboration.

Thus, cloud computing delivers numerous freedoms for an organization’s end users—from eliminating the “lock down” of specific devices, networks and locations to enabling a greater degree of IT velocity when responding to service requests.

The result: The cloud is good for both IT and for business—and cloud computing is changing the focus from the computer to the person. From an end user perspective, it’s all about personal computing, not the personal computer.