How does cloud computing support business agility?

Cloud computing significantly enhances business agility primarily by enabling the rapid deployment and iteration of applications. This capability allows businesses to launch new services or modify existing ones quickly in response to changing market demands or customer needs. With cloud infrastructure, companies can easily scale resources up or down according to their requirements, which greatly accelerates the development and deployment processes.

Moreover, cloud environments typically support agile methodologies, permitting teams to collaborate effectively and iterate on their applications without the delays associated with traditional on-premises setups, which often require significant time and resources for provisioning hardware or software. The flexibility of the cloud means that developers can focus on improving their products and delivering value to customers more efficiently.

In contrast, options like requiring extensive hardware installation, limiting service options to reduce complexity, and ensuring all data is stored on-premises represent characteristics of traditional IT environments that can hinder business agility. These approaches can lead to slower response times and reduced flexibility, making it difficult for businesses to adapt quickly in rapidly changing markets.