For example, when software companies maintain their product on the cloud, it basically means that several servers are tasked with storing, accessing and issuing data as needed. Your desktop computer, laptop, tablet and smartphone all have one thing in common – they initially store their information on physical devices. This could be the internal hard drive or an SD card in the case of some smartphones. Once this information is used online, for example, shared on Facebook, it is moved from this physical location to the cloud or in other words a network of several servers.

Convenience When you Need it

The cloud provides an incredible convenience for both personal use and businesses. A person may need to buy several hard drives to fulfill their storage needs. These devices can be vulnerable to data corruption and deprecation as the technology advances rendering them obsolete. This type of  storage offers users the ability to get the amount of space they need by purchasing data plans which can extend beyond a terabyte (1000GB of data). Thus the user is no longer left with the dilemma of worrying about losing that information because of a faulty hard drive, theft of the device or data corruption.

But is the Cloud Safe?

With numerous instances of hacked accounts one should be wary of what they place on the cloud. It is ideal for pictures that are perfectly suitable for public viewing, to do lists and other non-sensitive information. Regular users who are not backed by the experience of professional IT experts must be extremely vigilant when using shared cloud resources.

For larger organizations that require the efficiency of dedicated cloud accounts, additional security must be considered to ensure that the network is not easily compromised. No business should put vital information on a cloud based network that has not been secured by an IT expert. A specialist will be better equipped to manage and protect that data from malicious attacks.

The cloud is an incredibly useful piece of technology that has helped to reduce the overall cost that companies and individual users spend on storage devices and software. The concept is not as ambiguous as it may first appear. It is simply the means by which most online data is stored.  Project managers and project management teams should become aware of the pros and cons surrounding cloud technology in order to make good business and technology decisions.

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The Improvement We’ve Been waiting for!

The Return of the Iconic Start Button

There is no doubt that Windows 10 delivers where Windows 8 failed. One of the biggest complaints users of Windows 8 had was the removal of the start menu button. Its replacement – the start screen – was admonished unanimously by users who simply could not fathom the removal of something that was inherently Windows! Now users of windows 10 have the ease of using the start menu which has been cleverly integrated with the Live Tiles layout. This works perfectly for desktops but may be slightly extraneous for tablet users. Simple solution – tablet users now have a dedicated tablet mode that works impeccably with touch screen devices.

The return of the Desktop View

Windows 10 now allows users to ditch the full screen layout on desktops that was less than ideal for larger screens. Users can now switch from fullscreen mode to windows view for a more pleasant aesthetic experience.

Introducing Cortana for Desktops

Cortana is a powerful tool that allows faster searches on desktops and tablet devices. It has the added bonus of tracking and organizing most used content for quick access and a more user friendly experience.

Notifications at your Fingertips

Smart Phones and Tablets have long used notifications to create a more rewarding user experience. Windows 10 now introduces the convenience of automatic notifications that make it much easier to digest the vast amount of information that accumulates on any PC. Emails, updates and security flags will be made available in this nifty section that promises to enhance the OS.

Building on the Performance of Windows 8

Windows 10 loads quickly, as does Windows 8. The new OS does not necessarily boast much faster loading times but generally improves on the more streamlined booting process adopted by its predecessor.

What you’ll need to Upgrade to Windows 10

There are a few caveats to achieving an upgrade to the new OS. Your computer, laptop, tablet or mobile device must meet all the following criteria to be eligible for a Windows 10 install.

• Windows 7 SP1 or Windows 8.1 must be currently installed on your device.
• Your Processor must be at least 1 GHz or preferably faster.
• You must have at least 1GB of RAM available for a 32 bit system or 2GB of RAM for a 62 bit system.
• You should have a minimum of 16GB of hard drive space for a 32 bit system or 32GB of hard drive space for a 64 bit system
• Your graphics card should be a DX9 or later model and have WDDM 1.0 driver support.
• Your device’s screen resolution should be no less than 1024px x 600px.

Windows 10 is the OS we expected of Windows 8. Better late than never! If you are able to upgrade your PC do so before July 29, 2016 when users will be expected to pay US$119.00 for an upgrade to the Windows Home OS and $199 for an upgrade to Windows Pro.

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