We joined Startup Canada and Amazon Web Services for #StartupChats to tackle the most commonly asked questions startups have when leveraging the cloud to optimize for business.

What is cloud computing & what do entrepreneurs need to know about the cloud?

Startup Canada shared the definition of cloud computing as the on-demand availability of computer resources, especially data storage and computing power over the Internet. Cloud computing opens up a world of opportunity for entrepreneurs, startups and small businesses because it is easy to use, inexpensive, scalable, and there are many options from which to choose.

There are 3 main types of cloud computing:

1. IaaS
   Infrastructure as a Service provides you with the most flexibility and management over your IT resources and is most similar to existing IT resources that many IT departments and developers are familiar with today.
2. PaaS
   Platforms as a service removes the need for organizations to manage the infrastructure and allows them to focus on the deployment and management of applications.
3. SaaS
   Software as a Service provides you with a complete product that is run and managed by the service provider.

What are the benefits & risks of leveraging the cloud?

The benefit of leveraging the cloud is you get your software and applications live faster and more efficiently. With cloud backups you can minimize data loss. You can also save on resources by not having to manage server hardware and internet connection.

The common concerns businesses have when considering leveraging the cloud are security concerns, unauthorized access or availability, network issues at the cloud provider and compliance concerns.

Want to learn more about cloud computing for your startup?

Startups should consider what requirements they have for today and what's ahead in their future roadmap. It's important to think of how you can scale with the platform.

If you are a startup in Toronto, check out AWS upcoming events.

AWS Transformation Day in September 2019.

Join the AWS Transformation Day in Toronto and learn how AWS can help transform your business.

AWS Summit Toronto in October 2019.