SOLIDWORKS Desktop to the Cloud

寂静回声

Over the last few years, there has been a massive shift in how data is computed and stored, and this has been accelerated by the era of remote work ushered in by the pandemic in 2020.

An increasing number of companies are opting to forego large capital investments in IT infrastructure required to run resource-intensive programs to store large amounts of data and the associated overhead costs that go with that. Cloud-hosted servers such as Microsoft Azure and AWS, as well as cloud-computing platforms like 3DEXPERIENCE Works and the SOLIDWORKS Cloud Offer, are revolutionizing the way in which we both store and process data. Let’s take a look at some of the key factors behind moving to the cloud.
Using cloud servers such as AWS and Microsoft Azure for hosting purposes means that companies do not need to invest in an on-site server or worry about software and server upgrades. This is taken care of by the hosting company through recurring maintenance fees. For data management systems like SOLIDWORKS PDM, this means that the SQL and Archive servers that are required are simply located in the cloud. This brings me to my next point.
If you haven’t heard the words “remote working” in the last 2.5 years, I’d be convinced you lived on another planet. Remote working has become the norm, and cloud computing is extremely conducive to this new way of working. To continue with our PDM example, logging in remotely into a cloud-hosted PDM system would be a breeze. Simply sign in to your VPN to access the PDM network and you’re in!
With platforms like 3DEXPERIENCE Works, you don’t even need to use a VPN. All that is required are your login credentials and a web browser to access the countless solutions for your business purposes – whether this is to communicate with teammates all over the world, create and validate designs, or manage your company data.
Running complex simulations often means one of two things. 1) You are using a very expensive machine to run the simulations, or 2) you are spending a ridiculous amount of time waiting for your simulation studies to resolve. Through cloud computing, you can not only save on capital costs but also produce results faster without compromising on accuracy. Powerful applications like SIMULIA on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform can be leveraged to run extremely complex simulations on a web browser without tying up your computer’s processing power.
Perhaps one of the greatest advantages of working in the cloud is that companies can quickly and readily address changing IT requirements depending on business considerations. If greater IT bandwidth is required, cloud computing means this can be scaled up without the logistical challenges and investment for physical infrastructure. This flexibility can be a key competitive advantage.
To summarize, if you are thinking of increased mobility and flexibility and lower IT costs for your company, think of cloud collaboration.