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What Runs a Business?

Duration: 1.5 hours | Foundation Track

Learning Objectives​

  • Understand what computer servers are and how they support businesses
  • Compare traditional servers vs cloud computing solutions
  • Identify real-world examples of cloud services you already use
  • Explain the business benefits of moving to cloud infrastructure

What is a Computer Server?​

Think of a server like a super-powered computer that works 24/7 to help a business run. Just like your home computer can store files and run programs, a server does the same thing - but for an entire company.

Real-World Analogy​

  • Your home computer = Your personal workspace
  • A server = The company's shared workspace that everyone can access

What Servers Do for Businesses​

  1. Store Files - Like a giant digital filing cabinet
  2. Run Applications - Email, accounting software, websites
  3. Share Resources - Printers, internet, databases
  4. Backup Data - Keep copies of important information safe

Traditional Servers vs Modern Solutions​

Traditional Way (The Old Method)​

Company Buys Physical Servers:
- Large metal boxes in a server room
- Expensive to buy ($5,000-$50,000 each)
- Need cooling, electricity, maintenance
- If it breaks, business stops working
- Takes weeks to get new servers

Problems with Traditional Servers:

  • High upfront costs - Like buying a car when you only need occasional rides
  • Maintenance headaches - Need IT staff to fix hardware
  • Limited flexibility - Hard to add more power when business grows
  • Single point of failure - If server dies, business is down

Modern Way (Cloud Computing)​

Company Rents Computing Power:
- No physical boxes to maintain
- Pay only for what you use
- Instantly add more power when needed
- If something breaks, provider fixes it
- Can access from anywhere with internet

Benefits of Cloud Computing:

  • Lower costs - Like renting an apartment vs buying a house
  • Instant scaling - Need more power? Get it in minutes
  • Professional maintenance - Experts handle all technical issues
  • Built-in backups - Your data is automatically protected

Real-World Examples You Already Use​

Personal Cloud Services You Know​

  • Gmail - Your email isn't stored on your computer, it's "in the cloud"
  • Netflix - Movies aren't on your device, they stream from cloud servers
  • Dropbox/Google Drive - Your files are accessible from any device
  • Instagram - Your photos are stored on cloud servers, not just your phone

Business Applications​

  • Company Email - Instead of email server in office closet, use cloud email
  • Accounting Software - Instead of software on one computer, use cloud-based
  • Customer Database - Instead of files on office computer, use cloud database
  • Website Hosting - Instead of web server in closet, use cloud hosting

Business Success Stories​

Small Business Example: Local Law Firm​

Business Need: 15 lawyers need to share files securely and access email

Old Way Problems:
- Email server in closet that crashes frequently
- Files only accessible from office computers
- No access when working from home
- Lost data when server failed

Cloud Solution:
- Microsoft 365 for email and file sharing
- Files accessible from anywhere
- Automatic backups and updates
- Professional security and support

Results:
- 40% cost reduction
- 99.9% uptime vs 85% with old server
- Remote work capability
- Better security and compliance

Web Development Company Example​

Business Need: Host client websites and development environments

Old Way Problems:
- Expensive servers for each client
- Limited scalability for traffic spikes
- Manual backup and maintenance
- High hardware replacement costs

Cloud Solution:
- Amazon Web Services for hosting
- Automatic scaling for traffic
- Built-in backup and disaster recovery
- Pay only for resources used

Results:
- 60% cost savings
- Instant scalability
- 99.99% uptime guarantee
- Focus on development, not infrastructure

Hands-on Activity: Exploring Cloud Services​

Time: 20 minutes

Objective​

Experience cloud computing firsthand

Steps​

  1. Create a free Google Account (if you don't have one)
  2. Access Google Drive - Upload a document from your computer
  3. Access from different device - Phone, tablet, or another computer
  4. Share the document with someone else
  5. Edit together - Make changes at the same time

Discussion Questions​

  • How is this different from saving a file on your desktop?
  • What happens if your computer breaks but your files are in Google Drive?
  • How could a business use this same concept?

Knowledge Check​

5 questions, 5 minutes

  1. What is the main difference between a server and your home computer?

    • a) Servers are more expensive
    • b) Servers work 24/7 for multiple users
    • c) Servers are always bigger
    • d) There is no difference

  2. Which is a benefit of cloud computing over traditional servers?

    • a) Higher upfront costs
    • b) More maintenance required
    • c) Pay only for what you use
    • d) Slower performance

  3. Which of these is an example of cloud computing?

    • a) Microsoft Word installed on your laptop
    • b) Gmail accessed through a web browser
    • c) A printer connected to your computer
    • d) Music stored on your phone

  4. Why might a small business choose cloud services?

    • a) They like spending more money
    • b) They want to maintain their own servers
    • c) They need lower costs and professional maintenance
    • d) They don't trust the internet

  5. What happens to your Google Drive files if your laptop breaks?

    • a) All files are lost forever
    • b) Files are still accessible from other devices
    • c) You need to buy a new laptop first
    • d) Someone else owns your files now

Answers​

  1. b) Servers work 24/7 for multiple users
  2. c) Pay only for what you use
  3. b) Gmail accessed through a web browser
  4. c) They need lower costs and professional maintenance
  5. b) Files are still accessible from other devices

Key Takeaways​

What You Learned​

✅ Servers are powerful computers that support entire businesses
✅ Cloud computing offers significant advantages over traditional servers
✅ You already use cloud services in your daily life
✅ Businesses save money and improve reliability with cloud solutions

Business Value​

  • Cost Reduction: Lower upfront investment and operating costs
  • Improved Reliability: Professional management and built-in redundancy
  • Business Flexibility: Scale resources based on actual needs
  • Remote Access: Work from anywhere with internet connection

Next Steps​

In the next section, we'll dive deeper into networking basics and learn how devices communicate with each other and access cloud services.