Cloud computing is the hottest and most talked about subject in the world of technology. Large and mid-size companies are heavily investing in the cloud, and experts predict continued growth in the next decade. A Chief Information Officer at one Fortune 500 company says, “by the end of 2014, businesses in the United States will have spent more than $13 billion on cloud computing and managed hosting services.”
Put simply, cloud computing saves businesses money by moving their operational IT needs to a third-party hosting structure. This eliminates significant overhead costs like investments in servers, routers, staffing, etc., while providing worldwide access to their data in a secure fashion on multiple platforms.
The benefits of cloud computing are also significant for small business owners. Gone are the days when small businesses had to invest in infrastructure for operational technology needs to run their businesses such as business class email, calendar and file sharing.
Another benefit of cloud computing is reducing or perhaps eliminating the need for dedicated IT staff.
The cloud provides the flexibility of paying as you go and growing or downsizing as business needs change. This model is also beneficial because it reduces a small business’ technology risk by placing it on a third party with a proven track record of success in the space.
David S. Linthicum, senior vice president of Cloud Technology Partners, author, blogger at InfoWorld, and host of the Cloud Computing podcast, says, “With cloud, you have the ability to push the operational IT work to other people. This shifts the risk to the cloud provider and away from the enterprise, which is a good thing.”
The financial aspect of the cloud is one of the most intriguing reasons for a small business to consider its true value. The idea of paying for the software or the service per-user, per-month/year brings with it the great convenience to predict and plan future cost.
Along with this benefit, small businesses will also gain from the productivity, predictability, efficiency and the 99.99 percent up time guaranteed by most cloud providers along with the low cost of their per-user models.
The cloud has already proven to be a very beneficial investment to those who have seen its potential and utilized it to its full capacity. According to siliconangle.com, “82 percent of companies reportedly saved money by moving to the cloud.” This is particularly true with small businesses that are starting out and may be unsure of their IT needs.
Here are some tips for small businesses considering moving to cloud computing:
• Conduct an evaluation or hire an expert to assess your current technology configuration and performance. This assessment should result in an action plan with costs, timelines and recommendations.
• Some industries such as law firms, marketing companies, and finance firms, use proprietary or industry-specific software to run their businesses. Assess those needs and determine if cloud-based services are available.
• Ensure any cloud provider recommended to you is cross platform. With the continued emergence of smartphones and tablets, for example, it is critical employees have secure and reliable access to their files and data regardless of the platform they use.
Carlos Perez is a principal at Hartford-based Perez Technology Group and a technology professional with seven years of IT Infrastructure and project management delivery experience.
