Posted on Thu, Apr 22, 2010 @ 03:43 PM
Learn more about the benefits and limitations cloud computing presents for businesses...
Depending on the size of your company, cloud computing may dramatically reduce administrative costs. However, do the benefits outweigh the pitfalls?
Cloud computing is Internet-based computing. This means, all of the shared resources like software and information your company uses every day, would be provided to office computers and other devices as it is needed. By renting usage from a third-party provider, your business can cut costs by eliminating the need for a full physical infrastructure.
Cloud computing terms to remember…
Cloud computing has two bases, Software as a Service (SaaS) and Platform as a Service (PaaS). Think of SaaS as a software rental car company: In business, you use software as a vehicle to travel through transactions and communicate with others. Whether you are creating a contract for a new client, or processing a regular monthly payment, the software you use costs money. SaaS offers the software you need for a fixed monthly fee.
Meanwhile, PaaS is similar to a package deal you purchase from your travel agent that includes all of your travel arrangements. Instead of just renting the vehicle (software), you rent the hotel room (desktop computer) and your agent throws in coffee and breakfast at the buffet, too (a support contract.)
Blah, blah...cloud computing...blah blah...platform, what? If the last few paragraphs didn’t make much sense, this might help: Cloud computing can be described as a public utility. Your business pays for the specific software or other amenities, such as equipment or storage, on a monthly basis just as you would pay for the exact amount of electricity that’s used.
The benefits of cloud computing. There are four major benefits of cloud computing for businesses: easy scalability, increased reliability, high performance and specific configurability. Comparatively, these benefits surpass the standard dedicated infrastructure method of networking.
New businesses looking for a computing solution, or companies looking to make a change in their infrastructure, may elect to use cloud computing instead of forking over a huge capital investment to setup a network, purchase software packages, and pay someone to manage it all. Cloud computing can be a fantastic way to get a jump-start with little initial investment and fixed, or at least, predictable monthly costs.
The limitations of cloud computing.
As with everything, cloud computing has it downfalls. Cloud computing isn’t suitable for all business types, especially those that are reliant on decade old software. As a matter of fact, security and compliance are huge factors for decision makers because, cloud computing takes your data out of your office and out of your control. As a result, it is imperative to select a vendor that offers the security and privacy controls you need.
Software compatibility woes…
That’s right, Vista isn’t the only animal with compatibility issues. While it seems that any program you can think of should be available in the cloud, it isn’t a software heaven. Cloud computing vendors are still working to offer industry specific or specialty programs. You may need to shop around to find a vendor that has what you need.
However, be aware that transitioning from an older version of software to a newer version may not be a walk in the park. Older software may cause limitation with a newer operating system; it’s like trying to change a tire on a car while driving. Be sure to look at the features and advantages to keeping your current software and explore new opportunities for your business if necessary.
Don’t be afraid of change.
Cloud computing is said to be the “Next big thing!” in technology this year. If you are ready to make a change for your office, give us a call today to explore cloud computing options for your business.
Posted on Fri, Mar 19, 2010 @ 05:08 PM
Despite obvious consequences, many mid-sized companies are cutting back on security in order to weather the economic downturn. How can you be sure you have adequate coverage for your company?
According to a McAfee survey, seven out of ten mid-sized business believe that a data breach could put them out of business. That is a startling 70%! Yet, we see more companies slimming down their IT and security budgets in light of monetary strains.
The truth is… while you may spend less in reoccurring monthly charges, your company may be crippled by the costs of emergency repairs in the instance of a security breach. Darrell Rodenbaugh from McAfee shared his insight explaining a terrible trend afoot;
"An organization’s level of worry and awareness about increasing threats has not overcome the downward pressure on budgets and resources… But this creates a vicious cycle of breach and repair that costs far more than prevention"
Do you have an expert at your fingertips? The biggest question is if someone in your office is capable of deploying, configuring, managing, updating, and supporting a system with multiple lines of security for your organization. Remember, there are five key areas to consider when reviewing a security solution: end points, network security, e-mail, Internet, and data security. So, how can you determine the acceptable level of risk with regard to security for your organization? Take a look at these topics to review when evaluating your security needs.
A reactive or proactive stance.
Should you wait until a threat emerges and then concentrate on protecting your company against those threats? No! That’s like shopping for one meal at a time at the grocery store. Why wait until you’re hungry to go shopping? Take a proactive approach to assess threats, determine vulnerabilities, and analyze the risks to your company in terms you can use. For example, the likelihood or impact of an infection or compromise
. These quantitative results will help you measure the level of risk you are willing to carry with regard to security.
Policies to protect your company. While you may be confident in your staff and their ability to avoid infections, many dangers lurk in unsuspecting places online. According to RSA, the number of attacks via social networks at the end of 2008 totaled roughly 100,000 incidents. Promote a company policy restricting social networking and personal e-mailing at work in order to protect your organization from disaster. Unfortunately, all the preventative programs and policies in the world won’t do a bit of good if there is no training, tracking, or enforcement to keep your company safe. So, be sure to follow up with your security plan.
The purpose and scope of your
security plan. If you want to protect your business from costly interruptions, create a plan. Of course, the obvious purpose is to protect your company data, but think about the five vectors mentioned earlier; end points, network security, e-mail, Internet, and data
security. Which is a higher priority for you? Build a plan that focuses on your most valued or vulnerable areas, but be sure your scope is all inclusive. Overlooking any one of these five areas may be detrimental to your company’s progress. For example, compliance is a huge driver for security considerations in many industries today. Regulations may require you to keep documentation for a number of years and protect those documents from prying eyes. Make sure your plan protects your customers data, your employees, and you.
Don’t let security get bumped off your radar! If you have any questions about the topics in this article, take immediate action to protect your organization today by picking up the phone and calling Technology Management Solutions. We will work with you to conduct a thorough assessment of your network and pinpoint any exposure or risk to potential lapses in security, data backup, power outages, and system downtime.
Don’t worry, we won’t tie you down to one set of security measures. We understand that every business is a different. Our goal is to find the best solution to fit your organization and protect your most prized possession, your business
Posted on Mon, Jul 20, 2009 @ 04:33 PM
Forrester's Research Chairman and Chief Executive Officer George Colony talks about how Information technology should really be treated as Business Technology. He points out 7 specific items that he talks about with any CEO or business owner he meets with.
In this video he make some very good points but the one that stood out to me the most was "Stop Being Clueless"he goes on to say that all executives and business owners know about financials, marketing and all the other aspects of their business but have NO CLUE about technology, the one thing everyone use to make their business more productive, efficient and profitable. I personally have found this statement to be very true, i would even go as far as saying that 95% or more of the executives and business owners i have meet with are in this category.
Lastly i would like to thanks to Sean Green who 1st brought this video to my attention via his Magic Software Blog
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