Autodesk Brings It All to the Cloud
Autodesk, popular for its 3D design software, is now looking to make a name for itself in the cloud by migrating an entire software suite to its cloud platform.
These products incorporate an assortment of 360 products that are cloud-ready, including Autodesk 360, Autodesk PLM 360, AutoCAD 360, Fusion 360, SIM 360, among others, which users can access through the Web with an Autodesk 360 account. However, some will benefit greater from the cloud than others, particularly when they call for compute power (as is the case with simulation).
What would normally take hours to complete on a workstation can now be completed in minutes with the cloud, which can tap into more compute resources than most manufacturers have available. Because more time is freed up, analysts have more time to revise their testing and thus improve products.
Another benefit that the cloud poses is that cloud processes can be automated and monitored. And since the cloud has more resources available to help solve a problem, should one arise, it can also anticipate these issues and move the process along at a much faster rate.
Autodesk is no doubt hoping for the switch to SaaS to bring benefits to the entire supply chain of a business, including design teams, suppliers, and even customers. Keeping data in the cloud means that no matter how sprawling a company may be, the most up-to-date files can be accessed and collaborated on immediately.
However, that's not to say that Autodesk claimed the cloud as king once and for all. One concern in particular is security and the possibility that manufacturers' intellectual property may be vulnerable. But the company anticipates that as the cloud gains steam so too will security.
Restoration and backing up files is another issue. Not only does it increase the amount of data on a server but takes time for IT staff to constantly monitor and/or backup the drives. However, with the cloud managing backup data, Autodesk can save all versions of a design, allowing users to see and access each iteration along a products evolution.
