A professional training company in the IT industry is CompTIA. They have recently published some research which examines how small and medium-sized enterprises feel about cloud computing. Just under 20% of these companies in the UK used cloud computing, and in the next year it is estimated that another 30% will join their ranks. Over the next two years it is expected that over 80% of companies will be utilising the technology.
Cloud computing does have its drawbacks, and some businesses are concerned about security. There is also the problem that if your Internet connection goes down you will not be able to access your latest files. The growth of tablets in the workplace is another opportunity presenting itself to all businesses.
Directory of technology at CompTIA is Seth Robinson, he has said, “Tablets can be a good tool for businesses but they do carry security risks. Staff are likely to take them home and use them for leisure, this can mean they pick up viruses which might spread onto the businesses network. These are just one of the issues that IT department in a company will have to consider if they want to start using these mobile devices.”
Praesidium Consulting is another IT company looking at the intimidation of cloud computing, and they are assessing whether it lives up to its hype. Simon Collins from the company commented, “the cloud is changing the way IT in companies works, many see it as a very cost-effective way to bring services to their clients. However, it does come with its risks, perhaps the most important of these is security. Having data stored remotely can mean it is harder for companies to secure.”
We recently published an article and broadcast outlining what IT industry leaders are saying can be achieved through the use of Cloud Computing – http://blwy.co.uk/uk-smbs-reach-for-the-clouds/
Here is a comment from Dominic Jones, Managing Director of Barton Technology.
Sir, Every time I speak to another IT support consultant, they tell me about the benefits of cloud computing. However, they rarely outline the drawbacks. And I do understand the advantages of the cloud; in fact I’m the first to champion its benefits for the right kind of company.
I would argue that small businesses and SMEs should think twice about the value they will get from having their information infrastructure, software and services hosted on the internet, rather than on their personal computers or network.
Business owners should ensure that they have the right IT infrastructure and broadband services in place to meet their information demands. Cost is clearly an issue, as is security. But the biggest problem is Internet access. If you don’t have sufficiently robust broadband, equipped with adequate bandwidth, it can limit your flexibility and even your creativity. Cloud computing can also restrict the software you can use on individual machines – and we can all agree that lack of flexibility is not an option for small businesses and SMEs for whom agility is often the key selling point.
Cloud computing can be revelatory for the right business, but failure to plan might make it difficult to find the silver lining in this particular cloud.
Uncertain economic conditions have brought about new business models which have fundamentally transformed the way that we do business, for employees and customers alike. With a heightened focus on speed and flexibility to perform everyday business tasks and swiftly meet customer demand, technology is uniquely positioned to help businesses adapt.
Agile and unrestricted unlike many larger players, SMBs have much to gain from technology, particularly cloud computing. The cloud has enormous potential for SMBs in terms of economics, management, productivity and business flexibility. By having the applications at your fingertips to do your job quickly and efficiently are a must in business.
Cloud computing can enable greater collaboration within business by enabling employees to work together regardless of location. By harnessing the power of such technologies, SMBs can enjoy great productivity and flexibility which can be the critical differentiator when competing for potential customers.
Joining Michael Wilson to dispense her top tips and talk about why small business owners should grasp the opportunities available to them via cloud computing and how to adapt and meet changing customer demand, as well as cater to the demands of their own computer savvy staff is Tanya Shirlow, Head of SMB Marketing at Microsoft.
For more information about the HP Business Answers blog, please visit: www.hp.com/uk/bablog
While sometimes you really can find a free lunch, it is a little harder to believe that open source software can be utilized to run a business completely for free via cloud hosting.
However, those who have used free or open source software can attest to the fact that it is quite possible to open and run a small business by making full use of cloud computing technology. The hardest part of doing so is actually not the maintenance, but the transfer of that concept into business terminology because the fact that free is not always good has been drilled into most business minds for years.
While it can be hard to fathom that a free product really will work as well as a paid counterpart, the truth is that as the cloud computing technology and research continues to progress free can be a very viable option. This is particularly true in the case of a small business where a budget may be limited.
With this thought in mind, it may be time to toss out the ‘you get what you pay for’ mindset and replace it with a mindset that is focused on what future technology has to offer. After all, Google has created a cloud that is practically free and maintenance free, and Google is not a company known for being unreliable or shady. Therefore, maybe the possibility of free is something that all business owners should take the time to reconsider.
In the modern era in which businesses need to be connected and on at all times, solutions to business communication such as the Hosted Exchange allow companies to respond to customers at any time of the day.
Cloud computing firm Outsourcery, has changed the way that business communications occur as it is the first UK company that can offer smaller organizations a free email service. It also has helped SMEs by making large communication tools accessible and affordable for them, such as tasks and calendars. These perks are offered for free over a twelve month period, with the contract of another hosted service from the company.
In the past, these features and security options were only available to six figure IT budget corporations, but now Outsourcery has allowed smaller businesses to get involved, which is changing the market place dramatically.
Given the fact that the recession has driven more people to start building their own businesses, the demand for these types of tools is only increasing according to research from the BBA (British Banker’s Association).
This new cloud technology not only helps SMEs survive in the new tough market, but it also eliminates the need for Exchange Servers to be hosted in house without sacrificing productivity of communications.
Outside of free business email, Outsourcery, is also able to offer businesses four months of free access to the business communication service from Microsoft, Office Communicator. This product allows businesses of all sizes to use Outlook and communicate as an organization.
A professional training company in the IT industry is CompTIA. They have recently published some research which examines how small and medium-sized enterprises feel about cloud computing. Just under 20% of these companies in the UK used cloud computing, and in the next year it is estimated that another 30% will join their ranks. Over the next two years it is expected that over 80% of companies will be utilising the technology.
While sometimes you really can find a free lunch, it is a little harder to believe that open source software can be utilized to run a business completely for free via cloud hosting.
In the modern era in which businesses need to be connected and on at all times, solutions to business communication such as the Hosted Exchange allow companies to respond to customers at any time of the day.