Where does software actually run? For a long time, the answer was: on computers in your own office. Today, a lot of business software runs in the cloud instead.
The installed way
Imagine Peakline doing it the old way:
- It buys a server, a powerful computer, and keeps it in a back room.
- It installs the software on the server, and on every laptop.
- Someone has to keep it running, back it up and install every upgrade.
That means big hardware costs up front, endless maintenance, and sometimes weeks of waiting for a new server before anything is ready.
The cloud
Salesforce describes cloud computing as "the on-demand delivery of computing resources over the internet." In plain words, Peakline no longer runs its own server. It uses computers run by a cloud provider, over the internet, and pays only for what it uses.
Software as a service (SaaS)
When a whole app is delivered this way, it's called software as a service, or SaaS. The provider hosts the app and you open it in a web browser. The vendor handles maintenance, security patches and updates.
Salesforce is a cloud-based platform, so you work the same way: you open your browser and log in.
Why it matters for an admin
You won't buy servers or install upgrades. Your job is to set Salesforce up so it fits your company, and that's what this course teaches.
Recap
- Installed software runs on your own servers: you buy, maintain and upgrade everything.
- Cloud computing delivers computing over the internet.
- SaaS lets you use the app in your browser, with updates handled for you.
Next, public, private and hybrid cloud.
Now you try
List three apps you use in a web browser, with nothing to install. Share your list in the video's comments.