10 steps to the Cloud for SMBs Introduction to Cloud computing. Ask the Experts. Making Business Work Better Online

Size: px
Start display at page:

Download "10 steps to the Cloud for SMBs Introduction to Cloud computing. www.fasthosts.co.uk. Ask the Experts. Making Business Work Better Online"

Transcription

1 10 steps to the Cloud for SMBs Introduction to Cloud computing This paper is designed to explain, in plain English, the real reasons behind how your business can benefit from Cloud computing, and help you to get beyond the buzzword. Ask the Experts

2 10 steps to the Cloud for SMBs Introduction to Cloud computing Whatever industry you re in, it is likely that you have come across the term Cloud computing before. You may even be using a Cloud service within your business already, and be unaware of it. But how can small to medium businesses (SMBs) in the UK really take advantage of what Cloud computing has to offer, without having to delve through reams of management speak? Non-profit industry association, the Cloud Industry Forum (CIF), defines Cloud computing as: Cloud Computing is a term that relates to the IT infrastructure and environment required to develop/ host/run IT services and applications, on demand, with consumption based pricing, as a resilient service CIF predicts that 75 per cent of UK companies will be using at least one Cloud service by the end of In its latest research into Cloud adoption rates, CIF found that 58 per cent of organisations with fewer than 200 employees (52 per cent with fewer than 20 employees and 64 per cent with employees) are using at least one hosted or Cloud-based service, an increase of 10 per cent in total on the previous 18 months. UK SMBs those organisations employing less than 200 staff clearly represent a growth market, but they are still behind the huge adoption rates of larger enterprises, with a 16 per cent increase in use, year on year. The same report also found that operational cost savings, scalability, 24/7 service dependence and flexibility of delivery are consistent key drivers for Cloud adoption, no matter the size of the business. But what does this actually mean? This paper is designed to provide you with enough insight to be able to make a decision on how your business can best use Cloud computing in the short, medium and long term. 10 steps to Cloud adoption: 04/13 2

3 1. Where am I now? The first step to take is to evaluate your company s current IT infrastructure, as well as its existing and future needs in terms of data, information and electronic resources. What absolutely needs to stay on-premise, and what can be delivered off-premise via the Internet? Historically, SMBs have been restricted to only on-premise hardware and systems, with business critical applications such as customer relationship management, accounting or installed on each staff computer, or terminal. Your business may have an internal IT manager or team, or even outsource this to a managed service provider (MSP). On-premise can be capital intensive, prone to failures, needs annual licenses and often has to be replaced as hardware wears out. With limited resources and budgets, money and time thrown at IT issues could be better spent on growing the business. The cost effectiveness and flexibility makes off-premise an attractive alternative but the perceived threat to staff can put decision makers off choosing such a solution. However Cloud computing need not be a threat to your skilled IT department or outsourced provider. Moving to the Cloud has created a lot more opportunities without the threat of redundancy. Daily IT tasks can all be outsourced, quite possibly to your existing MSP if they provide Cloud services already. But the IT department will absolutely retain control of the IT infrastructure, and even develop their expertise in implementing and administering your Cloud-based applications and services. 2. Which type of Cloud is best for my business? Cloud services can be public, private, hybrid, on-premise, or offpremise. Each type suits different business needs, has slightly different attributes and benefits, and ultimately your provider will help you to determine that most suited to your SMB. Public Cloud offers high-scale, cost-effective virtual outsourcing, but the risk is that the provider is handed management control in many cases and data security and sovereignty. So choosing a trusted provider is essential. This drains both time and resources out of the businesses, leaving IT leaders unable to support business strategy as nimbly as they should. Many businesses benefit from a hybrid approach; whether this is mixing on-premise private for some applications, with public Cloud for s, or even adopting a lesser-known but increasingly viable option, creating a private Cloud that is hosted outside the business by an external provider. Unlike the other options, this can provide tremendous agility benefits while leaving the strategic and operational elements of the in-house IT function intact. With an externally hosted private Cloud, responsibility for the day-to-day maintenance and upgrading of the server estate a task that adds little value to the business falls on the provider, whereas the strategic and operational aspects of its usage and management remain in the remit of the internal IT team. IT leaders no longer have to sweat their hardware assets and can shift their focus to strategic business support instead. 3. Why will my Financial Director love me? Since all Cloud services are pay as you go, there is a huge argument for improving cash flow. Businesses can pay monthly, per user, per licence or by the amount of space that they use. Cloud services are flexible, so businesses can scale up and down usage, as the business needs change. Depending on the service level agreements (SLAs) in your provider s contract, off-premise solutions, private or public, means that maintenance is handed over to the Cloud provider, freeing up valuable resources and re-directing them to other parts of the business. And it is not just the direct costs that can be reduced, since in the long-term, indirect costs such as those attributed to labour versus productivity (detailed later in this report) will fall, as well as lower staff attrition as they feel the benefits of Cloud during the working day. Cloud computing has no capital expenditure, and it is much faster to deploy. Project budgets have minimal start-up costs, and operational expenses are therefore much more predictable, all helping towards delivering a healthy balance sheet. Private Clouds can be designed, built and hosted internally onpremise, but in many cases they leave IT teams with the same support and maintenance headaches that they have already. 10 steps to Cloud adoption: 04/13 3

4 4. How can the Cloud help me work better? As long as employees have an Internet-enabled device whether that s a smart phone, tablet or laptop they can now work from home, other offices, on the train or even in the pub. The possibilities are endless. No longer are employees required to work within the traditional confines of the office s four walls. Again, this can help decrease staff attrition as they are able to maintain a work/life balance, and increases productivity during time periods where previously they would not be able to work. The other benefit of Cloud computing for productivity is the ability to connect to colleagues, customers, partners and peers via the Cloud. They can collaborate on documents and business critical applications (rather than duplicating various versions and increasing the amount of unnecessary data within a business), as well as communicate speedily via , chat and unified communications platforms, such as Microsoft Lync. In a nutshell, data and information can be delivered to employees in real-time, providing access when and where it s required, increasing operational intelligence, and improving decisionmaking lead times. 5. How secure is my data in the Cloud? In reality, Cloud servers are typically safer than your own internal servers. You get to use servers that are protected with the latest security measures and have IT professionals watching them around the clock. An on-premise server can always be destroyed, e.g by a flood, but is handling your precious business data over to a Cloud services provider any better? to regulate the fine print in your provider s contract and ensure that your business retains control over data sovereignty. Also, don t forget, hard drives and laptops can be lost. Data in the Cloud is always there, no matter what. 6. Is the Cloud environmentally friendly? Cloud computing enables companies worldwide to pool and share facilities and resources, and is helping to contain data centre duplication. Swapping out on-site servers and hardware for hosted services and infrastructure over the Cloud will dramatically reduce your SMB s carbon footprint. Migrating some or all business functions, data or applications to the Cloud reduces energy usage and therefore utility bills, stops the need for cooling power and equipment, and decreases the amount of floor space you need to house servers, racks and storage. For SMBs, the cut in energy use and carbon emissions has been reported to be as high as 90 per cent, according to a Microsoft study 1. Less directly, since Cloud computing significantly improves mobile working and collaboration capabilities, employees spend less time on the road and in the office, again reducing your business s carbon footprint. On top of this, there is an argument that increased Cloud adoption by businesses in the main has displaced resources that otherwise would have been physically consumed, such as online retailing. 1 emissions-235 This report talked previously about the risk of handing over data to an external provider with public Cloud, and the lack of clarity and transparency of what is permissible or acceptable, versus what is possible, continues on. Recent high profile debates over subjects like the evolution of the European Data Protection legislation only add to the concerns. Data security, protection, sovereignty and portability concerns have been fuelled by the media, but initiatives such as CIF s Code of Practice are working on ensuring confidence for Cloud adopters from the start. Data held within the Cloud can actually be a lot more secure than having it on-premise, but it is important 10 steps to Cloud adoption: 04/13 4

5 7. How does the Cloud make IT easier? One of the big advantages of Cloud computing is that it makes your IT functions a lot simpler. When you have IT professionals working for your business, they will be able to gain approved access to documents, systems and applications more easily if everything is housed inside the Cloud. For example, instead of having IT professionals come to your office in order to fix the problem, they can simply log into the Cloud server from wherever they are, and address the issue. IT professionals also do not have to worry about taking care of the physical hardware because it is housed in a data centre, being watched by other IT professionals. Cloud computing also removes the need to manually update business critical applications, software, services and infrastructure. Updates are fast and delivered online automatically, reducing the need for any manual interference or disruption to the workforce and daily operations. 8. How do I ensure business continuity in the event of a crisis? Cloud computing offers SMBs an easy-to-use, cost effective business continuity and disaster recovery option. No longer do you need a complex, multi-strategy recovery plan, since whatever you decide to migrate to the Cloud is already backed up (backups will need to be configured by your provider) whenever changes are made to the data on the Cloud service. It was discovered recently that businesses using Cloud to backup their data were able to resolve issues four times faster on average than businesses that didn t use Cloud Does the Cloud really help me grow my business? One of the primary benefits for SMBs when using Cloud services is the 24/7 access to enterprise-class technology and resources. No longer are managers restricted by the hardware and equipment they could afford, but now they can compete with the big players in their market. As well as this, the size difference enables smaller businesses to manoeuvre faster and act in a more agile way than enterprises, which have a lot more considerations to include when changing business processes. As the backbone of UK Plc., SMBs including entrepreneurs, start-ups and spin-outs are being allowed the chance to compete on even ground with established competitors. The Cloud also enables businesses to identify new products, services or revenue streams, previously blocked by on-premise IT. The improved cash flow, mentioned previously in this report, also ensures a good flow of working capital and increased budgets to be able to diversify and expand operations. 10. What are my next steps? This paper is designed to equip managers at SMBs with enough information on the key benefits of Cloud computing to make an initial decision to research it further, and look towards adoption. Although an eagerly sought option for most business models and IT setups, Cloud services must be carefully considered in relation to the business model, scale and working environment. Depending on the complexity of a business s IT infrastructure it may be advisable to move to the Cloud in a phased approach. Cloud services can even be bolted-on to existing on-premise systems, easily and effectively. Since Cloud in its nature backs up data in real-time, there is no need to execute traditional back up processes on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. This saves valuable time that can be more productively re-directed to elsewhere in the business steps to Cloud adoption: 04/13 5

6 Choosing a provider of any good or service is never an easy task, but there are some key factors to consider when taking on Cloud: 1. Be clear on your needs and constraints Consider everything from the essential features you require, to what business functions should be Cloud based and what should stay on-premise. Don t forget the length of the minimum contract with potential providers, as well as regulation specific to your industry. 2. Understand the breadth and depth of providers In order to build trust in a provider you ll need to understand exactly what they re about, including their expertise, and who owns them. Consider customer service levels, reviews from other users, their processes and where their data centres are. 3. Look for the fine print Check terms of supply, personnel (i.e. who can access your data, if at all), contract termination protocols and auditing procedures. 4. Understand providers operating procedures and practices As you are entering a partnership with a Cloud services provider it is essential that you have the ability to understand their operating practise and procedures in order to ensure that you exercise appropriate controls and monitoring, and therefore align your own practices to reduce risk and improve service availability and performance. About Fasthosts Fasthosts, established in 1999, is a leading web hosting provider that specialises in Cloud Computing. Its state of the art data centres and team of experts ensure the smooth running and security of its customers IT. Services include: virtual private servers, dedicated servers, Exchange , Cloud hosting, domains names and online backup solutions; all of which can be self-managed through Fasthosts uniquely designed control panel. Looking after over a million domains and delivering over 42 million s is just an average day at Fasthosts. Fasthosts operates 24 x 7 x 365 days a year, and offers 24/7 support for its customers by phone or online. Customer service levels are consistently high, helped by customer feedback and a commitment by Fasthosts to invest in on-going training and development of its technical support staff. Fasthosts also maintains an award-winning, highly successful reseller channel. The company won the Microsoft Hyper-V Cloud Partner Award and Microsoft s Global Hosting Partner Award in For further information about any of the products and services mentioned, visit or call the Fasthosts Cloud experts on steps to Cloud adoption: 04/13 6

GETTING THE MOST FROM THE CLOUD. A White Paper presented by

GETTING THE MOST FROM THE CLOUD. A White Paper presented by GETTING THE MOST FROM THE CLOUD A White Paper presented by Why Move to the Cloud? CLOUD COMPUTING the latest evolution of IT services delivery is a scenario under which common business applications are

More information

BUILDING THE CASE FOR CLOUD: HOW BUSINESS FUNCTIONS IN UK MANUFACTURERS ARE DRIVING PUBLIC CLOUD ADOPTION

BUILDING THE CASE FOR CLOUD: HOW BUSINESS FUNCTIONS IN UK MANUFACTURERS ARE DRIVING PUBLIC CLOUD ADOPTION BUILDING THE CASE FOR CLOUD: HOW BUSINESS FUNCTIONS IN UK MANUFACTURERS ARE DRIVING PUBLIC CLOUD ADOPTION Industry Report Contents 2 4 6 Executive Summary Context for the Sector Key Findings 3 5 9 About

More information

Sage ERP The top five reasons to deploy your ERP Solution in the cloud

Sage ERP The top five reasons to deploy your ERP Solution in the cloud Sage ERP The top five reasons to deploy your ERP Solution in the cloud 1 Table of contents Executive summary 3 Are you outgrowing your business solution? 3 SMBs want ERP 3 Budget and IT resource constraints

More information

SafeMail April 2015. SafeMail Helping your business reach further with email hosted at UK based, ISO 27001, Tier 4 data centres.

SafeMail April 2015. SafeMail Helping your business reach further with email hosted at UK based, ISO 27001, Tier 4 data centres. SafeMail April 2015 Secure cloud solutions with guaranteed UK data sovereignty. SafeMail Helping your business reach further with email hosted at UK based, ISO 27001, Tier 4 data centres. Detailing the

More information

Grow Your Business with Confidence

Grow Your Business with Confidence Grow Your Business with Confidence Keep Your Business Going and Growing Whether you make widgets, sell services, or move merchandise, you depend on your people, and your people depend on the tools you

More information

Is your business still wasting time and money on PCs and Servers?

Is your business still wasting time and money on PCs and Servers? Hosted Managed Desktop Cloud Computing Is your business still wasting time and money on PCs and Servers? Our service is a cheaper and simpler alternative to owning and managing your own business IT network.

More information

How On-Premise ERP Deployment Compares to a Cloud (SaaS) Deployment of Microsoft Dynamics NAV

How On-Premise ERP Deployment Compares to a Cloud (SaaS) Deployment of Microsoft Dynamics NAV How On-Premise ERP Deployment Compares to a Cloud (SaaS) Deployment of Microsoft Dynamics NAV 13875 Cerritos Corporate Dr., #A Cerritos, CA 90703 Toll Free : (800) 969-APEX Tel : (562) 926-6820 E-mail

More information

SEVEN REASONS TO CONSIDER ERP IN THE CLOUD SPECIAL REPORT SERIES ERP IN 2014 AND BEYOND

SEVEN REASONS TO CONSIDER ERP IN THE CLOUD SPECIAL REPORT SERIES ERP IN 2014 AND BEYOND SEVEN REASONS TO CONSIDER ERP IN THE CLOUD SPECIAL REPORT SERIES ERP IN 2014 AND BEYOND CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 3 TRY BEFORE YOU BUY 4 TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE MOST ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY 6 GENERATE MEASURABLE

More information

How To Use Windows Small Business Server 2011 Essentials

How To Use Windows Small Business Server 2011 Essentials Everything Your Business Needs in a Server, Nothing it doesn t. Ideal as a first server for small businesses with up to 25 users, Windows Small Business Server 2011 Essentials provides a cost-effective

More information

Building A Buisiness Case For UCaaS: Moving To Scalable Cloud Communications

Building A Buisiness Case For UCaaS: Moving To Scalable Cloud Communications Building A Buisiness Case For UCaaS: Moving To Scalable Cloud Communications Scalable Cloud Communications: The Right Choice For Your Business? Business communications used to be easy. Companies were able

More information

How to Turn the Promise of the Cloud into an Operational Reality

How to Turn the Promise of the Cloud into an Operational Reality TecTakes Value Insight How to Turn the Promise of the Cloud into an Operational Reality By David Talbott The Lure of the Cloud In recent years, there has been a great deal of discussion about cloud computing

More information

Become more agile with Cloud services

Become more agile with Cloud services Become more agile with Cloud services and create cost-saving and security benefits for your busines Choose from a Private, Public, Hybrid or On-Premise Cloud service from NTT Communications ICT Solutions

More information

DNA IT - Business IT On Demand

DNA IT - Business IT On Demand DNA IT - Business IT On Demand September 1 2011 DNA IT White Paper: Introduction to Cloud Computing The boom in cloud computing over the past few years has led to a situation that is common to many innovations

More information

Bringing the Cloud into Focus. A Whitepaper by CMIT Solutions and Cadence Management Advisors

Bringing the Cloud into Focus. A Whitepaper by CMIT Solutions and Cadence Management Advisors Bringing the Cloud into Focus A Whitepaper by CMIT Solutions and Cadence Management Advisors Table Of Contents Introduction: What is The Cloud?.............................. 1 The Cloud Benefits.......................................

More information

Is your business secure in a hosted world?

Is your business secure in a hosted world? Is your business secure in a hosted world? Threats to the security of business data are constantly growing and evolving - What can you do ensure your data remains secure? Introduction The safe use of computer

More information

...you and your IT team can connect over cloud

...you and your IT team can connect over cloud Click...you and your IT team can connect over cloud Cloud is a great way to get your organisation working in harmony across the board. But what s in it for your IT crowd? Won t Cloud start treading on

More information

Public or Private Cloud: The Choice is Yours

Public or Private Cloud: The Choice is Yours white paper Public or Private Cloud: The Choice is Yours Current Cloudy Situation Facing Businesses There is no debate that most businesses are adopting cloud services at a rapid pace. In fact, a recent

More information

Cloud Hosting. Small and Mid-market Businesses Achieve Tremendous Benefit From Cloud Services

Cloud Hosting. Small and Mid-market Businesses Achieve Tremendous Benefit From Cloud Services Consider the challenges small to mid-size organizations typically face, and how well those challenges map to cloud computing strengths: Maximizing ROI. Smaller budgets mean every dollar spent must generate

More information

CIBECS / IDG Connect DATA LOSS SURVEY. The latest statistics and trends around user data protection for business. www.cibecs.

CIBECS / IDG Connect DATA LOSS SURVEY. The latest statistics and trends around user data protection for business. www.cibecs. CIBECS / IDG Connect 2014 DATA LOSS SURVEY The latest statistics and trends around user data protection for business. REPORT www.cibecs.com 2 Table of ontents EXECUTIVE 01 02 03 04 05 06 SUMMARY WHO PARTICIPATED

More information

Cloud Computing Guidelines

Cloud Computing Guidelines 1 Cloud Computing Guidelines Contents Introduction... 3 What is cloud computing?... 3 Why use cloud computing?... 4 The building blocks of cloud computing... 8 Best practice guidelines... 12 The legal

More information

Time better spent. Take your organisation somewhere new with Fujitsu Mobile Business Solutions. Reshaping ICT, Reshaping Business

Time better spent. Take your organisation somewhere new with Fujitsu Mobile Business Solutions. Reshaping ICT, Reshaping Business Time better spent Take your organisation somewhere new with Fujitsu Mobile Business Solutions. Reshaping ICT, Reshaping Business Welcome to What would it mean to your organisation if your people were able

More information

Session 2. The economics of Cloud Computing

Session 2. The economics of Cloud Computing Session 2. The economics of Cloud Computing Cloud computing is the next step in the on-going evolution of Information Technology. From a technical standpoint, very little that currently is done on cloud

More information

Your complete guide to Cloud Computing

Your complete guide to Cloud Computing Your complete guide to Cloud Computing 1 Doc V1.0 Dec 2013 Table of Contents Hosted Desk- 3 The Cloud and Cloud Computing... 4 The benefits of Cloud Solutions 6 The Cloud is Growing - Rapidly 7 Resolving

More information

GET CLOUD EMPOWERED. SEE HOW THE CLOUD CAN TRANSFORM YOUR BUSINESS.

GET CLOUD EMPOWERED. SEE HOW THE CLOUD CAN TRANSFORM YOUR BUSINESS. GET CLOUD EMPOWERED. SEE HOW THE CLOUD CAN TRANSFORM YOUR BUSINESS. Cloud computing is as much a paradigm shift in data center and IT management as it is a culmination of IT s capacity to drive business

More information

Capita Productivity Hub Combining secure private cloud with familiar Microsoft tools

Capita Productivity Hub Combining secure private cloud with familiar Microsoft tools IT Enterprise Services Capita Productivity Hub Combining secure private cloud with familiar Microsoft tools The freedom and agility which cloud unleashes directly impacts business performance. Cloud productivity

More information

GET CLOUD EMPOWERED. SEE HOW THE CLOUD CAN TRANSFORM YOUR BUSINESS.

GET CLOUD EMPOWERED. SEE HOW THE CLOUD CAN TRANSFORM YOUR BUSINESS. GET CLOUD EMPOWERED. SEE HOW THE CLOUD CAN TRANSFORM YOUR BUSINESS. Cloud computing is as much a paradigm shift in data center and IT management as it is a culmination of IT s capacity to drive business

More information

Achieve the Five Holy Grails of Business with the Cloud

Achieve the Five Holy Grails of Business with the Cloud Achieve the Five Holy Grails of Business with the oip technology represents a radical shift in the traditional IT model, but like most game-changing developments, it s a simple idea that makes so much

More information

Be Part of the Cloud Conversation Grow your share of wallet permanently. Start

Be Part of the Cloud Conversation Grow your share of wallet permanently. Start Be Part of the Cloud Conversation Grow your share of wallet permanently Start The Cloud Dilemma 1 2 3 Today, we each use several devices and multiple channels text, IM, email, voice and for some, video.

More information

Flexible business solutions move to the cloud. Whitepaper

Flexible business solutions move to the cloud. Whitepaper Flexible business solutions move to the cloud Whitepaper Whitepaper Cloud computing is hardly the newest buzzword on the block but it has now entered business consciousness through its frequent appearances

More information

Processing invoices in the cloud or on premises pros and cons

Processing invoices in the cloud or on premises pros and cons WHITE PAPER Purchase-to-pay by ReadSoft. Automated account payables processing software Author: Wille Dahl March 2012 Copyright ReadSoft - www.readsoft.com Processing invoices in the cloud or on premises

More information

Remote Infrastructure Management Emergence of the Cloud-based Helpdesk

Remote Infrastructure Management Emergence of the Cloud-based Helpdesk Remote Infrastructure Management Emergence of the Cloud-based Helpdesk A leadership perspectives white paper Recommended next steps for business and industry executives Issue 11 in a series Executive Summary

More information

Get Your Business Moving. In partnership with Nomis Connections

Get Your Business Moving. In partnership with Nomis Connections Get Your Business Moving In partnership with Nomis Connections Get Your Business Moving Mobile devices + the cloud = biggest business opportunity to come along in quite a while Businesses have more opportunity

More information

Radware ADC-VX Solution. The Agility of Virtual; The Predictability of Physical

Radware ADC-VX Solution. The Agility of Virtual; The Predictability of Physical Radware ADC-VX Solution The Agility of Virtual; The Predictability of Physical Table of Contents General... 3 Virtualization and consolidation trends in the data centers... 3 How virtualization and consolidation

More information

MAXIMUM PROTECTION, MINIMUM DOWNTIME

MAXIMUM PROTECTION, MINIMUM DOWNTIME MANAGED SERVICES MAXIMUM PROTECTION, MINIMUM DOWNTIME Get peace of mind with proactive IT support Designed to protect your business, save you money and give you peace of mind, Talon Managed Services is

More information

Whitepaper : Cloud Based Backup for Mobile Users and Remote Sites

Whitepaper : Cloud Based Backup for Mobile Users and Remote Sites Whitepaper : Cloud Based Backup for Mobile Users and Remote Sites The Organisational Challenges We propose three key organizational principles for assessing backup Security Control Performance Functional

More information

Cloud computing is a way of delivering IT services to users without the need to buy, install or manage any infrastructure.

Cloud computing is a way of delivering IT services to users without the need to buy, install or manage any infrastructure. hosted services dynamic Increased flexibility and cost saving The benefits employees can access information wherever they are, rather than having to remain at their desks. Reduced costs our hosted services

More information

BACKUP ESSENTIALS FOR PROTECTING YOUR DATA AND YOUR BUSINESS. Disasters happen. Don t wait until it s too late.

BACKUP ESSENTIALS FOR PROTECTING YOUR DATA AND YOUR BUSINESS. Disasters happen. Don t wait until it s too late. BACKUP ESSENTIALS FOR PROTECTING YOUR DATA AND YOUR BUSINESS Disasters happen. Don t wait until it s too late. OVERVIEW It s inevitable. At some point, your business will experience data loss. It could

More information

The Cloud for Insights

The Cloud for Insights The Cloud for Insights A Guide for Small and Medium Business As the volume of data grows, businesses are using the power of the cloud to gather, analyze, and visualize data from internal and external sources

More information

Cloud Computing Services

Cloud Computing Services Cloud Computing Services Thinking About Moving to the Cloud? How you get to the cloud is as important as being there, because being in the cloud isn t enough. Your access needs to be synced with your overall

More information

How cloud computing can transform your business landscape

How cloud computing can transform your business landscape How cloud computing can transform your business landscape Introduction It seems like everyone is talking about the cloud. Cloud computing and cloud services are the new buzz words for what s really a not

More information

Cloud Computing Safe Harbor or Wild West?

Cloud Computing Safe Harbor or Wild West? IT Best Practices Series Cloud Computing Safe Harbor or Wild West? With IT expenditures coming under increasing scrutiny, the cloud is being sold as an oasis of practical solutions. It s true that many

More information

Contact Centers in the Cloud: A Better Way to Source

Contact Centers in the Cloud: A Better Way to Source Contact Centers in the Cloud: A Better Way to Source By Irwin Lazar Vice President and Service Director, Nemertes Research Executive Summary Contact Center Software as a Service (CCSaaS) solutions provide

More information

Understanding Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)

Understanding Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) Understanding Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) One of the biggest concerns associated with cloud CRM is the long-term total cost of ownership. Use this guide to calculate and set your budget. Why look at

More information

WhitePaper. Private Cloud Computing Essentials

WhitePaper. Private Cloud Computing Essentials Private Cloud Computing Essentials The 2X Private Cloud Computing Essentials This white paper contains a brief guide to Private Cloud Computing. Contents Introduction.... 3 About Private Cloud Computing....

More information

Desktop Solutions SolutioWhitepaper

Desktop Solutions SolutioWhitepaper Author: Mike Herrmann With organizations looking for new ways to cut costs and increase productivity, the use of cloud computing has grown. The most common form of cloud computing is for vendors making

More information

Public Sector Hosting April 2015

Public Sector Hosting April 2015 Public Sector Hosting April 2015 Secure Cloud solutions with guaranteed UK data sovereignty. Cloud computing for the public sector Public sector organisations are increasingly driven to improve operational

More information

Cloud Computing - A Small Business Necessity

Cloud Computing - A Small Business Necessity Why Should My Small Business Consider Cloud These days, even those small business owners and executives who are well aware of Cloud Computing are asking lots of questions about it:» Should my business

More information

Creative Shorts: Twelve lifecycle management principles for world-class cloud development

Creative Shorts: Twelve lifecycle management principles for world-class cloud development Creative Shorts: Twelve lifecycle management principles for world-class cloud development Foundations for optimal development on and for the cloud A Creative Intellect Consulting Shorts Report Series (ALM)

More information

Why Should Unified Communications Be Part Of Your Strategy?

Why Should Unified Communications Be Part Of Your Strategy? oip Why Should Unified Communications Be Part Of Your Strategy? It s not just the large firms implementing Unified Communications (UC), small organisations are also starting to reap the benefits. Who Should

More information

The evolution of data connectivity

The evolution of data connectivity Leveraging the Benefits of IP and the Cloud in the Security Sector The CCTV and alarm industry has relied on analogue or Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) communications to provide data connectivity

More information

How cloud computing can transform your business landscape.

How cloud computing can transform your business landscape. How cloud computing can transform your business landscape. This whitepaper will help you understand the ways cloud computing can benefit your business. Introduction It seems like everyone is talking about

More information

Differentiate your business with a cloud contact center

Differentiate your business with a cloud contact center Differentiate your business with a cloud contact center A guide to selecting a partner that will enhance the customer experience An Ovum White Paper Sponsored by Cisco Systems, Inc. Publication Date: September

More information

Top Cloud Solutions For SMBs

Top Cloud Solutions For SMBs The Fulcrum Group, Inc. (817) 337-0300 Top Cloud Solutions For SMBs Is it time you came to the cloud? This White Paper is brought to you by your friends at The Fulcrum Group, Inc. Good timing plus a little

More information

Building confidence in Cloud services

Building confidence in Cloud services Building confidence in Cloud services Alex Hilton alex@cloudindustryforum.org MARKET RESEARCH About the Cloud Industry Forum The Cloud Industry Forum (CIF) is a membership led industry body that champions

More information

Leveraging the Private Cloud for Competitive Advantage

Leveraging the Private Cloud for Competitive Advantage Leveraging the Private Cloud for Competitive Advantage Introduction While it is universally accepted that organisations will leverage cloud solutions to service their IT needs, there is a lack of clarity

More information

Modernizing Servers and Software

Modernizing Servers and Software SMB PLANNING GUIDE Modernizing Servers and Software Increase Performance with Intel Xeon Processor E3 v3 Family Servers and Windows Server* 2012 R2 Software Why You Should Read This Document This planning

More information

Moving to the Cloud? DIY VS. MANAGED HOSTING

Moving to the Cloud? DIY VS. MANAGED HOSTING Moving to the Cloud? DIY VS. MANAGED HOSTING 12 Factors To Consider And Why You Should Be Looking for a Managed Hosting Provider For Your Site or Application as You Move to the Cloud Your site or application

More information

Make technology your business advantage

Make technology your business advantage Make technology your business advantage $ Make technology your business advantage Microsoft helps small and midsize businesses (SMBs) make the use of technology a business advantage. Modernizing your systems

More information

Making HR Simpler. A Guide to Software as a Service. Cezanne Software White Paper

Making HR Simpler. A Guide to Software as a Service. Cezanne Software White Paper Making HR Simpler A Guide to Software as a Service Cezanne Software White Paper Contents Introduction... 1 What is SaaS?... 2 What are the Benefits?... 3 Food for Thought... 4 Finding the Right Supplier...

More information

WHY CLOUD BACKUP: TOP 10 REASONS

WHY CLOUD BACKUP: TOP 10 REASONS WHITE PAPER DATA PROTECTION WHY CLOUD BACKUP: TOP 10 REASONS Contents REASON #1: Achieve disaster recovery with secure offsite cloud backup REASON #2: Freedom from manual and complex tape backup tasks

More information

How To Choose A Cloud Computing Solution

How To Choose A Cloud Computing Solution WHITE PAPER How to choose and implement your cloud strategy INTRODUCTION Cloud computing has the potential to tip strategic advantage away from large established enterprises toward SMBs or startup companies.

More information

Communications in the Cloud Why It Makes Sense for Today s Business

Communications in the Cloud Why It Makes Sense for Today s Business Communications in the Cloud Why It Makes Sense for Today s Business Unified communications delivered in the cloud can help businesses of all sizes address many collaboration and communications challenges.

More information

Using the Cloud: A Quick Guide for Small and Medium Businesses

Using the Cloud: A Quick Guide for Small and Medium Businesses Using the Cloud: A Quick Guide for Small and Medium Businesses Author: Ben McDougall (Greystone Consulting Ltd), November 2013 1 What is the Cloud? Although we have been hearing about The Cloud for the

More information

Providing a quality IT Support & Consultancy service in the South East

Providing a quality IT Support & Consultancy service in the South East Providing a quality IT Support & Consultancy service in the South East At M2 Computing, we provide flexible, affordable IT consultancy and systems support across the South East. With a proven track record

More information

The Wise Group and Microsoft Office 365 Customer Solutions

The Wise Group and Microsoft Office 365 Customer Solutions Microsoft Office 365 Customer Solution Case Study Social Enterprise Reduces Costs and Expands Services with Flexible Cloud-Based Solution Overview Country or Region: United Kingdom Industry: Nonprofit

More information

The Cloud for Insights

The Cloud for Insights The Cloud for Insights A Guide for Small and Midsize Business As the volume of data grows, businesses are using the power of the cloud to gather, analyze, and visualize data from internal and external

More information

VoIP Deployment Options

VoIP Deployment Options AN ATLANTIC-IT.NET WHITEPAPER VoIP Deployment Options Whether cloud-based or on premises, IP-based voice platforms can deliver a wide range of significant business benefits. 2 VoIP Deployment Options EXECUTIVE

More information

Sage ERP I White Paper. ERP and the Cloud: What You Need to Know

Sage ERP I White Paper. ERP and the Cloud: What You Need to Know I White Paper ERP and the Cloud: What You Need to Know Table of Contents Executive Summary... 3 Increased Interest in Cloud-Based ERP and SaaS Implementations... 3 What is Cloud/SaaS ERP?... 3 Why Interest

More information

Can Cloud Database PaaS Solutions Replace In-House Systems?

Can Cloud Database PaaS Solutions Replace In-House Systems? Can Cloud Database PaaS Solutions Replace In-House Systems? Abstract: With the advent of Platform-as-a-Service as a viable alternative to traditional database solutions, there is a great deal of interest

More information

A 123Together.com White Paper. Microsoft Exchange Server: To Outsource Or Not To Outsource The affordable way to bring Exchange to your company.

A 123Together.com White Paper. Microsoft Exchange Server: To Outsource Or Not To Outsource The affordable way to bring Exchange to your company. Microsoft Exchange Server: To Outsource Or Not To Outsource The affordable way to bring Exchange to your company. Table of Contents Introduc on... 3 Microso Exchange Server Delivers Value Your Company

More information

Radware ADC-VX Solution. The Agility of Virtual; The Predictability of Physical

Radware ADC-VX Solution. The Agility of Virtual; The Predictability of Physical Radware ADC-VX Solution The Agility of Virtual; The Predictability of Physical Table of Contents General... 3 Virtualization and consolidation trends in the data centers... 3 How virtualization and consolidation

More information

What You Need to Know About Cloud Backup: Your Guide to Cost, Security, and Flexibility

What You Need to Know About Cloud Backup: Your Guide to Cost, Security, and Flexibility Your Guide to Cost, Security, and Flexibility What You Need to Know About Cloud Backup: Your Guide to Cost, Security, and Flexibility 10 common questions answered Over the last decade, cloud backup, recovery

More information

The Small Business Cloud Outlook. An inside look at how small and mid-size businesses are turning to the cloud to solve everyday issues

The Small Business Cloud Outlook. An inside look at how small and mid-size businesses are turning to the cloud to solve everyday issues The Small Business Cloud Outlook An inside look at how small and mid-size businesses are turning to the cloud to solve everyday issues 1 Introduction Table of Contents 2 Introduction 5 Running Business

More information

Communications in the Cloud: Why It Makes Sense for Today s Business

Communications in the Cloud: Why It Makes Sense for Today s Business A UBM TECH WHITE PAPER MAY 2013 Communications in the Cloud: Why It Makes Sense for Today s Business Unified communications delivered in the cloud can help businesses of all sizes address many collaboration

More information

The Cloud as a Platform

The Cloud as a Platform The Cloud as a Platform A Guide for Small and Midsize Business As the cloud evolves from basic online software tools to a full platform for business, it can provide ways for your business to do more, grow

More information

White paper. How cloud computing can transform the fortunes of small and mid-sized businesses

White paper. How cloud computing can transform the fortunes of small and mid-sized businesses White paper How cloud computing can transform the fortunes of small and mid-sized businesses Small and mid-sized businesses are increasingly looking for new and innovative ways to cut costs while sharpening

More information

WHITE PAPER. 5 Ways Your Organization is Missing Out on Massive Opportunities By Not Using Cloud Software

WHITE PAPER. 5 Ways Your Organization is Missing Out on Massive Opportunities By Not Using Cloud Software WHITE PAPER 5 Ways Your Organization is Missing Out on Massive Opportunities By Not Using Cloud Software Cloud software allows your organization to focus on its strengths and outsource tough data storage

More information

IBM Enterprise Linux Server

IBM Enterprise Linux Server IBM Systems and Technology Group February 2011 IBM Enterprise Linux Server Impressive simplification with leading scalability, high availability and security Table of Contents Executive Summary...2 Our

More information

ABS Information Systems Inc. 307 Lesmill Rd, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M3B 2V1 Phone: 416-449-4141 Email: sales@absinfosys.com

ABS Information Systems Inc. 307 Lesmill Rd, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M3B 2V1 Phone: 416-449-4141 Email: sales@absinfosys.com How can small and midsize businesses that are relentlessly challenged by technology complexity and rapid technology obsolescence utilize a private cloud solution to thrive? Introduction 1 Growing with

More information

Getting Your Head In The Cloud

Getting Your Head In The Cloud CRM Expert Advisor White Paper Getting Your Head In The Cloud Businesses today hold more data than ever before. As a result, one of the biggest decisions any company small or large has to face is where

More information

Contents. Introduction. What is the Cloud? How does it work? Types of Cloud Service. Cloud Service Providers. Summary

Contents. Introduction. What is the Cloud? How does it work? Types of Cloud Service. Cloud Service Providers. Summary Contents Introduction What is the Cloud? How does it work? Types of Cloud Service Cloud Service Providers Summary Introduction The CLOUD! It seems to be everywhere these days; you can t get away from it!

More information

How To Get Ready For Business

How To Get Ready For Business A Ready Business rises above infrastructure limitations Vodacom Power to you Vodacom Business Nigeria Managed Hosted Services Get Ready to free up your business. To succeed in today s world of dramatic

More information

Cloud Computing in Banking

Cloud Computing in Banking Financial Services the way we see it Cloud Computing in Banking What banks need to know when considering a move to the cloud Contents 1 Overview 3 2 Why Cloud Computing for Banks? 4 2.1 Cost Savings and

More information

How To Use A Cloud Based Crom Live Solution

How To Use A Cloud Based Crom Live Solution Overview & Highlights- Maximizer CRM Live In today s world, businesses need a tool that helps flourish client relationships. Maximizer CRM Live is that tool for our firm. Maximizer CRM Live saves money,

More information

How To Understand Cloud Computing

How To Understand Cloud Computing TOP 10 CLOUD MYTHS DEBUNKED Navigating to the Cloud - Maximize Operational Efficiencies and Minimize by Avoiding Common Cloud Myths WHITE PAPER Contents 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 2. INTRODUCTION Top Market

More information

Microsoft Lync On-Premise vs. Cloud-Based Videoconferencing Deployment

Microsoft Lync On-Premise vs. Cloud-Based Videoconferencing Deployment Microsoft Lync On-Premise vs. Cloud-Based Videoconferencing Deployment 14 th April 2014 Copyright 2014, Videocall Ltd - Commercial In Confidence 1 of 7 Videocall Ltd Videocall House, 100 Park Street, Camberley,

More information

The Advantages of Web-based CRM Software

The Advantages of Web-based CRM Software WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF CLOUD-BASED CRM? CRM software is a great way for managing all of your customers contact information and business interactions in one place. Cloud-based CRM is more popular now

More information

Choosing the right solution for your Corporate Email

Choosing the right solution for your Corporate Email Choosing the right solution for your Corporate Email Corporate email Private Cloud Public Cloud Traditional Choosing the right solution for your Corporate Email One of the core IT applications for all

More information

IT Services. Capita Private Cloud. Cloud potential unleashed

IT Services. Capita Private Cloud. Cloud potential unleashed IT Services Capita Private Cloud Cloud potential unleashed Cloud computing at its best Cloud is fast becoming an integral part of every IT strategy. It reduces cost and complexity, whilst bringing freedom,

More information

What you need to know about cloud backup: your guide to cost, security, and flexibility. 8 common questions answered

What you need to know about cloud backup: your guide to cost, security, and flexibility. 8 common questions answered What you need to know about cloud backup: your guide to cost, security, and flexibility. 8 common questions answered Over the last decade, cloud backup, recovery and restore (BURR) options have emerged

More information

TOP 5 REASONS WHY FINANCIAL SERVICES FIRMS SHOULD CONSIDER SDN NOW

TOP 5 REASONS WHY FINANCIAL SERVICES FIRMS SHOULD CONSIDER SDN NOW TOP 5 REASONS WHY FINANCIAL SERVICES FIRMS SHOULD CONSIDER SDN NOW Abstract Software-defined networking, or SDN, is a relatively new technology that is already having a major impact on companies in the

More information

Building Private & Hybrid Cloud Solutions

Building Private & Hybrid Cloud Solutions Solution Brief: Building Private & Hybrid Cloud Solutions WITH EGENERA CLOUD SUITE SOFTWARE Egenera, Inc. 80 Central St. Boxborough, MA 01719 Phone: 978.206.6300 www.egenera.com Introduction When most

More information

Ricoh IT Services. Comprehensive solutions. IT infrastructure. IT Services

Ricoh IT Services. Comprehensive solutions. IT infrastructure. IT Services Ricoh IT Services Comprehensive solutions and support for highperforming, cost-efficient IT infrastructure IT Services Ricoh provides IT services that meet the needs of small, medium and enterprisesized

More information

Mapping Your Path to the Cloud. A Guide to Getting your Dental Practice Set to Transition to Cloud-Based Practice Management Software.

Mapping Your Path to the Cloud. A Guide to Getting your Dental Practice Set to Transition to Cloud-Based Practice Management Software. Mapping Your Path to the Cloud A Guide to Getting your Dental Practice Set to Transition to Cloud-Based Practice Management Software. Table of Contents Why the Cloud? Mapping Your Path to the Cloud...4

More information

How the Cloud Computing Can Transform Your Business

How the Cloud Computing Can Transform Your Business How the Cloud Computing Can Transform Your Business With the cloud, individuals and small businesses can snap their fingers and instantly set up enterprise-class services. Paul Maritz, CEO of VMware Contents

More information

Partner Sees Annual Cloud Sales Up 336 Percent, Total Sales Up 25%, with All In Cloud Strategy

Partner Sees Annual Cloud Sales Up 336 Percent, Total Sales Up 25%, with All In Cloud Strategy Partner Sees Annual Cloud Sales Up 336 Percent, Total Sales Up 25%, with All In Cloud Strategy Overview Partner: InfinIT Consulting Partner Website: www.infinitconsulting.com Partner Size: 15 employees

More information

HYBRID CLOUD: A CATALYST TO DRIVING EFFICIENCIES AND MEETING THE DIGITAL ASPIRATIONS OF THE UK PUBLIC SECTOR

HYBRID CLOUD: A CATALYST TO DRIVING EFFICIENCIES AND MEETING THE DIGITAL ASPIRATIONS OF THE UK PUBLIC SECTOR HYBRID CLOUD: A CATALYST TO DRIVING EFFICIENCIES AND MEETING THE DIGITAL ASPIRATIONS OF THE UK PUBLIC SECTOR Public Sector Industry Report Contents 2 Executive Summary 5 3 Pressure to Meet 6 Key Findings

More information

MANUFACTURING IN THE CLOUD IMPROVED PRODUCTIVITY AND COST SAVINGS ARE ON THE HORIZON

MANUFACTURING IN THE CLOUD IMPROVED PRODUCTIVITY AND COST SAVINGS ARE ON THE HORIZON MANUFACTURING IN THE CLOUD IMPROVED PRODUCTIVITY AND COST SAVINGS ARE ON THE HORIZON White paper by Bala Adiseshan President & CEO inkumo, Inc. MANUFACTURING IN THE CLOUD: IMPROVED PRODUCTIVITY AND COST-

More information

Develop an intelligent disaster recovery solution with cloud technologies

Develop an intelligent disaster recovery solution with cloud technologies Develop an intelligent disaster recovery solution with cloud technologies IBM experts share their insight on how cloud technologies can help restore IT operations more quickly, reliably and cost-effectively

More information