The emergence of cloud computing has been hard to ignore over the past several years. More and more organizations are turning to the cloud for software needs, and PaySimple is no exception. We have used cloud technology as a base for our on-demand solution since we started in 2005, and including the most recent update to our platform in May of this year. From our CRM, to email services, to this blog, PaySimplers are cloud-surfing every day.
So what does cloud-based mean? The reality is, technology has been using “cloud” for some time, but every few years, a new term comes out to describe it. You may recognize “ASP,” “Saas,” or “on-demand.” These are all terms describing the same thing–Internet-based technology. Cloud computing is based around the idea that once users pass certain information (say, customers’ payment information), they no longer require the expertise/security to control it, but rather are supported by their cloud service and/or technology (like PaySimple) to manage it from that point forward — And because cloud computing is Internet-based, information is accessible with any Internet connection, there is typically no software to download, and data all securely stored.
Benefits to a business of using cloud-computing are obvious: low infrastructure costs, fewer staffing and training requirements, and ease of implementation to name a few. Often overlooked, but perhaps one of the most important benefits, is security.
By using cloud services, companies are able to avoid the pains and costs associated with local database security, an obvious necessity in payment processing. For example, PaySimple is independently scanned multiple times a year for various security standards and fully audited for PCI DSS certification annually. Because of cloud technology, PaySimple can ‘pass on’ its security standards to its clients via the cloud. The majority of our clients can be compliant by following a few simple standards, rather than enduring the cost of maintaining secure systems and having an annual audit. Customers rely on merchants to protect their information, and merchants, in turn, can rely on their cloud.