Cloud can be used on hourly basis

Bruce Trevarthen.

TheCloud chief executive Bruce Trevarthen says cloud computing is entering an evolutionary phase where cloud services will be available on an hourly basis, allowing for more flexibility in business.

Flexible cloud computing, or the ability to pay on an hour-by-hour basis for cloud servers, has been available overseas for several years, however, according to Trevarthen, theCloud's V-grid flex service is one of the first hourly service models available in New Zealand.

He said the company had developed the programme after it became clear there was a demand for the service as more businesses moved their work to the cloud.

"Cloud computing is transforming the way New Zealand businesses operate. And the rollout of ultrafast fibre has had a significant impact on its uptake in recent years," Trevarthen said.

"As companies have come to realise the power of cloud computing, flexible consumption models for virtual servers have been in hot demand."

Trevarthen said the ability to utilise cloud servers on an hourly basis benefited companies where traffic or business peaked at certain points in the day.

"For example, a business might sell their products online and know that their online purchasing system receives extremely heavy traffic at a certain time of day," Trevarthen said.

"A flexible consumption service allows them to increase their virtual server capacity for that specific block of time when performance is absolutely crucial."

The ability to use an hourly service would save smaller businesses money by charging only when the service is used.

Trevarthen said the service allowed businesses to be more cost-effective without compromising scalability or security.

TheCloud is a fully automated cloud services platform which was set up in 2008.