The ADVANTAGE of Cloud Based Computing:

Transcription

1 The ADVANTAGE f Clud Based Cmputing: A Web Based Slutin fr: Business wners and managers that perate equipment rental, sales and/r service based rganizatins.

2 R M I Crpratin Business Reprt RMI Crpratin has been in the business f develping, implementing and supprting management systems fr businesses that rent, sell and/r service equipment since During that time we have wrked with thusands f business wners and system users in an effrt t help them becme mre efficient at what they d. Over the years, systems like RMI s ADVANTAGE have becme very rbust in the ways that they help streamline business peratins and in the ease in which infrmatin is readily available t thse that need it. While wrking with ur clients we have heard that it can be difficult fr businesses t keep all f the cmpnents f their systems in synch with ne anther. Further, the n-ging cst f wnership is difficult t understand, difficult t plan fr and, is a cause fr cncern and frustratin. At RMI we have taken these cncerns seriusly and have adpted the Clud Based Cmputing ptin as a way f addressing them cmpletely. In summary, Clud Based Cmputing ffers the fllwing benefits t ur clients: One fee cvers everything Clud Based Cmputing is a subscriptin based service where users simply lg int their system via the internet. The service includes: All Sftware Licensing Fees including, ADVANTAGE License Fees Micrsft Office Licensing Micrsft Exchange Licensing SQL Database CALS Remte Cnnectivity Sftware (Citrix, Terminal Server etc.) Virus Prtectin Sftware Supprt Tls (Windws Live, WebEx etc.) Credit Card Prcessing Sftware Reprting Sftware (Jet, Access etc.) Lad Balancing Sftware Implementatin and Training Fees including, Data Cnversin Installatin and Setup Vide Based Training Avn, CT Page 2 f 8

3 24 hur a day, 7 days per week Supprt Services Cmmitted Service Level Agreement (SLA) Living breathing Supprt Reps in additin t Self Service Knwledge Base and Vide Supprt All Upgrade and Enhancement Cverage Cvers bth Sftware and Netwrk Hardware. Netwrk Infrastructure, Including, Hst Server Data Strage Daily Backups System Security Backup Pwer Firewall Prtectin Electricity and Cling Csts Etc. Is Clud Based Cmputing right fr yur business? There are many reasns why businesses are nw turning t Clud Based Cmputing as a way f eliminating the cmplexity, cst and time assciated with managing their missin critical infrmatin systems. The remainder f this reprt discusses the reasns that s many businesses are turning t Clud Based Cmputing and why RMI chse this mdel as the primary way in which it delivers its ADVANTAGE Slutin t the Rental, Sales and Service Industry. * * * * * * * * This White Paper is intended t help readers understand the cncept f Clud Based Cmputing. It identifies key inclusins in the ffering s that readers can make an infrmed decisin when cnsidering Clud Based Cmputing versus the traditinal On-Premise apprach t system wnership. Publicatin Date: May, RMI Inc. All rights reserved. Avn, CT Page 3 f 8

4 ADVANTAGE Sftware is a registered trademark f RMI Crpratin. Micrsft, Windws, and Excel are registered trademarks f Micrsft Crpratin. RMI, Inc. 40 Darling Drive Avn, CT United States f America Telephne: Facsimile: Web Address: Avn, CT Page 4 f 8

5 C O N T E N T S T H E C H A L L E N G E... 6 T H E S O L U T I O N... 6 S U M M A R Y... 8 A B O U T R M I... 8 Avn, CT Page 5 f 8

6 T H E C H A L L E N G E: Understanding the differences between traditinal sftware licensing ptins (aka On-Premise licensing) versus Clud Based Cmputing Optins. T H E S O L U T I O N: There are a number f reasns why many businesses are lking t Clud Based Cmputing t meet their Management Infrmatin and Operatinal needs. Here are sme f the mre cmmn reasns fr mving in this directin: Security: Clud Based Systems are hsted in sme f the cuntry s mst secure data center peratins. RMI s Data Center fr example has the fllwing security characteristics: Netwrk Access t the Netwrk is secured via: RMI ADVANTAGE is designed with 128-bit data encryptin, the same standard used fr nline banking and merchant accunts. Multiple Failver Firewalls Access Mnitring and Lgging Lgical Security In additin t Netwrk Security there are several Lgical Security steps that are maintained t make sure that ur Clud Based system users are prtected against security breaches. These include: Active Directry Authenticatin Passwrd Plicy Management and Accunt Lckut Cntrls Cmplete Segregatin f Custmer Data. Physical Security In additin t prtecting infrmatin frm electrnic security threats ur data center als prtects data frm physical threats via: Card and/r bimetric cntrlled access t Data Center Individually Lcked Device Cabinets Clsed Circuit Camera Security Backup Tapes stred ff-site n a daily basis N 3 rd Party Access t Data Managerial All Persnnel wrking within the data center have had cmplete backgrund checks. It s irnic that many wh are cntemplating Clud Based Cmputing list Security as an initial cncern against adpting the mdel. Yet, when cmpared t the typical Server Rm Practices f mst Small t Mid-Sized Enterprises, Data Security Avn, CT Page 6 f 8

7 might actually be the first and fremst reasn t adpt a Clud Based Cmputing strategy. Ease f Implementatin - As an Industry Slutin, systems like RMI s ADVANTAGE cme pre cnfigured with Industry Best Practices already setup within the slutin. In additin, there is n need t acquire and deply a Netwrk Server. Access t yur system ccurs within hurs f signing up fr the service. Single Price - One f the mst cmmn surces f frustratin with the traditinal On-Premise licensing mdels is the amunt f hidden csts that cntinuusly arise under that mdel. Under Clud Based Cmputing yur mnthly subscriptin fees are based upn the number f users wrking n the system. User Cunts can mve up (r, dwn) as business needs dictate. There are n ther recurring fees that are cmmn within the traditinal On-Premise licensing mdel. Add and Subtract Users as needed The Ecnmy is nt the nly reasn that causes changes in requirements fr cncurrent user access t yur system. Yu may have special prjects that result in a temprary need fr additinal users after which yu will want t reduce yur licensed user cunt. Under Clud Based Cmputing yu can add and/r subtract cncurrent user access licenses as yur needs dictate. Server Rm Infrastructure - Many small t mid-sized business wners wuld be surprised t learn exactly what their server rms cst them t maintain. Csts f On-Premise slutins include staffing csts fr emplyees r cntractrs that are needed t manage yur systems. In additin, many ther Server Rm Csts are spread acrss many suppliers and are difficult t summarize. The electrical csts alne n a server are estimated t run between $350/$400 per year per server and that des nt include the cst f cling the rm in which the servers reside. Backup Pwer Supplies, Database Backup, Disaster Recvery etc. are just a few mre cst items that disappear under the Clud Based Cmputing mdel. Accessibility Being able t lg int yur system frm anywhere in the wrld makes life much easier and cnvenient t all system users. Access can be thrugh traditinal Windws Devices r thrugh Apple Mac devices with n need t address interface issues. With further develpment f devices like Tablet PCs and Apple IPads Users can experience a significant amunt f usable real estate when wrking n field service type applicatins. Avn, CT Page 7 f 8

8 Updates and Upgrades In the Wrld f Clud Based Cmputing all hardware and sftware updates happen autmatically at n additinal charge. In additin, ADVANTAGE is updated at regularly scheduled intervals as fllws: Feature Enhancements are installed quarterly. Cmplete System Upgrades ccur every 18 mnths. Financial Cnsideratins The Clud Based Cmputing Optin vastly reduces yur up-frnt cash requirements. This ptin results in a 100% Operating Expense (OpEx) that is fully deductible fr tax purpses. Cmpare this t the requirement t Capitalize (CapEx) Sftware Licensing Fees and Implementatin csts when licensing yur sftware and hardware thrugh the t- raditinal On-Premise apprach and the savings can be significant. The infrmatin prvided abve shuld begin t demnstrate the benefits assciated with Clud Based Cmputing. S U M M A R Y: Clud Based Cmputing remves all hidden csts and headaches assciated with maintaining yur sftware and in-huse cmputer rms. It ffers cmplete flexibility and accessibility while keeping yur entire business slutin up t date. Yu may want t cnsider Clud Based Cmputing fr yur Business. Abut RMI: RMI Crpratin is dedicated t delivering autmated management slutins fr the equipment rental, sales and service industry. RMI s ADVANTAGE Sftware delivers missin critical functinality and prcedures t help equipment rental, sales and service cmpanies deliver a high level f custmer service, while maintaining cntrl ver their equipment, revenues and expenses. RMI s ADVANTAGE System is built upn Micrsft Business Slutin Sftware (NAV) and is Micrsft s Certified Industry Slutin fr the Equipment Rental, Sales and Service Industry. Our ttal slutin is fully integrated with Micrsft Office and is.net cmpliant. Fr mre infrmatin abut RMI, RMI ADVANTAGE r any f ur service fferings, please visit us n the web at Avn, CT Page 8 f 8