Cloud Networks: Benefits and Savings For Businesses of All Sizes
By Stephanie Rowan
Cloud networks and storage solutions can provide companies of any size with an outsourced infrastructure that can facilitate strategic growth and create opportunities with clients and customers across the world. With solutions that include content management along with internal and external communications, businesses can find scalable solutions that can enable their team to work remotely and across a variety of devices. With insight from key market research studies, cloud solutions can reduce a company’s TCO (total cost of ownership) by reducing their reliance on traditional brick & mortar spaces, limited markets, and inefficient operations. This can translate into six key benefits for businesses, including Improved collaboration, strategic and managed growth, lowered operational costs, secure data backup, greater reliability, and eased resource management. Through standardized, more efficient solutions and infrastructure, companies can grow on their own terms, which can allow organizations to reinvest in their future success. Learn more about these tangible benefits. As businesses adapt to new technologies and changing markets, their daily operations and data storage solutions need to evolve as well. In previous generations, a company’s core functions, including communication and record-keeping, were a logistical feat often requiring the acute focus of a dedicated operations manager to oversee multiple, non-standardized processes running concurrently across multiple platforms. More often than not, these processes required manual input and countless hours to update, leaving key areas vulnerable to human error or oversight. Apart from inefficient time use, manual operations often required physical data storage, meaning separate filing cabinets or rooms full of servers just to keep tabs on valuable information. Benefits For Businesses of Any Size That’s where cloud networks come in. By outsourcing basic functions like communication and data storage, companies stand to save significantly in terms of time and resources that would have normally been simply spent on maintaining current projects. Let’s say that you run an advertising firm in southern California. How much of your day would be eaten up by rote, mundane tasks related to intra-office communications and project management? By subcontracting emails, content management, and network security to a Los Angeles IT services firm, your company would be able to focus on core functions, strengthened client relations, and strategic reinvestment in growth that includes attracting larger accounts as well as promotional efforts. Six Key Benefits According to American Express, the benefits of cloud computing can be broken down into six key areas: Improved collaboration Strategic and managed growth Lowered costs Secure data backup Greater reliability Eased resource management These benefits are applicable to companies of all sizes across industries and sectors, even small startups that are just getting their footing. Because cloud resources can be accessed remotely, team members have the opportunity to work from anywhere across a range of devices. Content and Communications Management Let’s look at a startup advertising firm as an example again. Using a content management system (CMS) such as Trello or Basecamp, account managers would be able to liaise with writers, graphic designers, and even clients from anywhere with a reliable internet connection. With both collaboration and growth in mind, this would allow the firm to connect innovative and creative talent with clients from anywhere in the world while allowing management to work remotely. This remote workforce would render a traditional office space obsolete, possibly eliminating real estate or rental costs. Hosting content on a CMS in addition to a cloud document tool such as Google Docs would also provide a low-cost, secure data backup. All in all, an agency that utilized this model would be primed for as much growth as it would be able to handle, without being weighed down by overhead costs with which traditional brick & mortar firms would have to contend. Savings For Any Company In terms of financial benefits, Forbes has some insight into projected savings. Louis Columbus, a contributor specializing in enterprise resource planning (ERP) and cloud software, discussed these potential savings in a column on how cloud computing could be a viable investment for any company. With data from a study conducted by market research firm, Vanson Bourne, 1300 businesses across multiple industries in the UK and the US were surveyed on the cost benefits of cloud networks and computing solutions for their organizations. Cost reduction averaged about 23% since companies were able to save on infrastructure, both physical and technical. Further, 62% of firms surveyed were able to invest these saved funds back into their businesses. Continued Innovation and Growth Based on the data and findings from market researchers and media outlets alike, being less reliant on costly hardware and physical space can enable any organization to streamline operations and reduce their total cost of ownership as explained in another analysis from a Forbes contributor. While cloud networks and services are being provided by industry behemoths like Amazon and Microsoft, the emergence of many startups in the retail and services sectors is leveling the playing field among smaller and medium-sized businesses in many communities worldwide. Along with reduced costs and more intuitive communication and management, cloud networks help companies to innovate beyond the expectations of their local markets. It’s clear that advances in network and data storage solutions will continue to facilitate the growth of small and medium sized businesses in the digital space.
Rated 4.0/5
based on 20 customer reviews
Cloud Networks: Benefits and Savings For Businesses of All Sizes
By Stephanie Rowan
Cloud networks and storage solutions can provide companies of any size with an outsourced infrastructure that can facilitate strategic growth and create opportunities with clients and customers across the world. With solutions that include content management along with internal and external communications, businesses can find scalable solutions that can enable their team to work remotely and across a variety of devices. With insight from key market research studies, cloud solutions can reduce a company’s TCO (total cost of ownership) by reducing their reliance on traditional brick & mortar spaces, limited markets, and inefficient operations. This can translate into six key benefits for businesses, including Improved collaboration, strategic and managed growth, lowered operational costs, secure data backup, greater reliability, and eased resource management. Through standardized, more efficient solutions and infrastructure, companies can grow on their own terms, which can allow organizations to reinvest in their future success. Learn more about these tangible benefits. As businesses adapt to new technologies and changing markets, their daily operations and data storage solutions need to evolve as well. In previous generations, a company’s core functions, including communication and record-keeping, were a logistical feat often requiring the acute focus of a dedicated operations manager to oversee multiple, non-standardized processes running concurrently across multiple platforms. More often than not, these processes required manual input and countless hours to update, leaving key areas vulnerable to human error or oversight. Apart from inefficient time use, manual operations often required physical data storage, meaning separate filing cabinets or rooms full of servers just to keep tabs on valuable information. Benefits For Businesses of Any Size That’s where cloud networks come in. By outsourcing basic functions like communication and data storage, companies stand to save significantly in terms of time and resources that would have normally been simply spent on maintaining current projects. Let’s say that you run an advertising firm in southern California. How much of your day would be eaten up by rote, mundane tasks related to intra-office communications and project management? By subcontracting emails, content management, and network security to a Los Angeles IT services firm, your company would be able to focus on core functions, strengthened client relations, and strategic reinvestment in growth that includes attracting larger accounts as well as promotional efforts. Six Key Benefits According to American Express, the benefits of cloud computing can be broken down into six key areas: Improved collaboration Strategic and managed growth Lowered costs Secure data backup Greater reliability Eased resource management These benefits are applicable to companies of all sizes across industries and sectors, even small startups that are just getting their footing. Because cloud resources can be accessed remotely, team members have the opportunity to work from anywhere across a range of devices. Content and Communications Management Let’s look at a startup advertising firm as an example again. Using a content management system (CMS) such as Trello or Basecamp, account managers would be able to liaise with writers, graphic designers, and even clients from anywhere with a reliable internet connection. With both collaboration and growth in mind, this would allow the firm to connect innovative and creative talent with clients from anywhere in the world while allowing management to work remotely. This remote workforce would render a traditional office space obsolete, possibly eliminating real estate or rental costs. Hosting content on a CMS in addition to a cloud document tool such as Google Docs would also provide a low-cost, secure data backup. All in all, an agency that utilized this model would be primed for as much growth as it would be able to handle, without being weighed down by overhead costs with which traditional brick & mortar firms would have to contend. Savings For Any Company In terms of financial benefits, Forbes has some insight into projected savings. Louis Columbus, a contributor specializing in enterprise resource planning (ERP) and cloud software, discussed these potential savings in a column on how cloud computing could be a viable investment for any company. With data from a study conducted by market research firm, Vanson Bourne, 1300 businesses across multiple industries in the UK and the US were surveyed on the cost benefits of cloud networks and computing solutions for their organizations. Cost reduction averaged about 23% since companies were able to save on infrastructure, both physical and technical. Further, 62% of firms surveyed were able to invest these saved funds back into their businesses. Continued Innovation and Growth Based on the data and findings from market researchers and media outlets alike, being less reliant on costly hardware and physical space can enable any organization to streamline operations and reduce their total cost of ownership as explained in another analysis from a Forbes contributor. While cloud networks and services are being provided by industry behemoths like Amazon and Microsoft, the emergence of many startups in the retail and services sectors is leveling the playing field among smaller and medium-sized businesses in many communities worldwide. Along with reduced costs and more intuitive communication and management, cloud networks help companies to innovate beyond the expectations of their local markets. It’s clear that advances in network and data storage solutions will continue to facilitate the growth of small and medium sized businesses in the digital space.
Rated 4.0/5
based on 20 customer reviews
568
- by Stephanie Rowan
- 06 Jul 2017
Cloud networks and storage solutions can provide companies of any size... Read More
Impact On IT Service Management From Cloud Computing
By KnowledgeHut Editor
In IT Service Management, the ITIL V3 philosophy stresses that “IT is the business.” This is truly realized for providers offering cloud computing services. There are a number of considerations that affect Service Management processes when moving to a cloud services model. Service Desk These traditional ITIL Service Support processes are tightly linked. In the cloud computing model, high expectations of availability are part of the model’s selling point, so rapid restoration of service becomes critical through the use of these processes and the Service Desk that performs them. Change management In addition, Change Management work flow activities can sometimes be done best by the Service Delivery Architects. They are the ones who determine the rules used by the automation tools rather than by the Service Management team, who traditionally performed those tasks now being done by the automation tools. Configuration and Asset Management With the Cloud service model’s standardized infrastructure and specialized tool sets, configuration is typically much simpler than that of an enterprise environment, with its extensive variety of hardware and software that must be orchestrated together. Many service-specific tools provide configuration capability for that service, thus reducing the amount of manual coordination requiredwhen compared to the Enterprise IT model. Asset management is related to configuration management and, in a cloud service, has both a virtual component (e.g. tracking virtual resources) and a dynamic component (i.e., assets can change every hour) to its management process. Configuration Management needs to address a consumer view, (i.e., what assets belong to the service being consumed), a service view, (since assets equal revenue), and an enterprise view, (showing the business status of all cloud services being offered.) Service Level Management With a cloud environment, a single SLM process can exist, but separate SLAs and Service Level Packages should be defined, monitored, and managed for each service. The monitoring components for SLA related performance data will require tools that do not just rely on knowledge of the infrastructure, given the unpredictability of which cloud infrastructure components will actually be used. Instead, monitoring service performance and availability for ensuring SLA compliance must be done from the perspective of the user not from the perspective of the infrastructure. Availability, Capacity, Continuity, and Security The cloud environment’s “Provider-Consumer” model breaks the link between IT continuity and the customer’s business continuity. The Cloud service provider must offer to its customers a warranty of service continuity and make it part of the SLA that comprises the Service Level Packages offered by the service provider. With a cloud service provider, the hardware and software environments are much more uniform and more easily managed. With the provider’s more homogeneous infrastructure offering a much more stable environment, the risks from a change to production are significantly reduced. With reduced risk, Cloud service providers can deliver modifications to services much faster and hence their agility becomes a part of the business model and a distinguishing capability in the market. It also implies that the Release and Deployment Management (RDM) process is often replaced by a different paradigm. In the cloud model, scalability of capacity and performance is a core offering provided by cloud service providers and their SLAs should reflect this. To accomplish this real-time scalability requires two things on the part of the service provider. For cloud services, availability is vital; much of the availability must be architected into the service. Where once the technical developers of a service could ignore the availability issues of their applications, leaving that to the job of the IT organization, cloud service availability is a key factor to its commercial success and hence must be built-in by the service developers and service architects working with the IT organization. With a combination of tools and resiliency built into the design and implementation of the service itself, the responsibility for availability must be shifted into the development lifecycle long before a service goes into production.
Rated 4.0/5
based on 20 customer reviews
259
- by KnowledgeHut Editor
- 31 May 2017
In IT Service Management, the ITIL V3 philosophy stresses that “IT i... Read More
Team Collaboration: The Benefits Of Using Cloud Tools
By Evie Harrison
According to Forbes Insights: Collaboration in the Cloud,the ability to mingle across geographical parameters, time zones, or even organizational borders is becoming an ever more critical foundation of success. The cloud has reached a place where it has become an integral part of our everyday work-lives. Based on its affordability and colossal effectiveness, modern entrepreneurs are using cloud services to build and run their small businesses, while working with people from different parts of the globe. In fact, collaborative work based on cloud technology has already proved its competency in bringing your most diverse teams together. By working together on on-site and off-site documents alike, cloud collaboration tools allow your team members to ingress, edit and even share files outside of the company firewall. Thanks to the growing practices of BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) and remote employment, cloud tools are fast becoming permanent features of the contemporary workplace. Modern-day workforce wants to move and communicate easily between various devices and cloud collaboration helps them to do that. Perks Of The Cloud Despite the increasing trend of cloud collaboration to amplify business productivity, many small businesses are yet to understand its benefits. According to the report published by Endurance International Group, many entrepreneurial ventures fail to take advantage of the significant advances in cloud collaboration technology and are also “unfamiliar with some of the most advantageous online tools.” The study also found that even though one-third of the respondents had heard of the term, they were unsure of what cloud computing actually meant. While 11 percent of the group said they rely on cloud collaboration for their business functioning, 67 percent of people admitted to not having invested in the technology yet. As a business person, if you too are thinking of investing in cloud tools for collaboration, here are the five basic benefits of the practice for start-ups and their teams. Easy Deployment & Maintenance SaaS (software as a service) collaborative solutions, often requiring little more than a license activation to get you up and running, are easy to install and maintain – with no unnecessary software downloads or costly, time-consuming hardware installations. Often by simply entering an email address, you can test a cloud-based collaboration product with a free trial. By taking advantage of free trials, you can be more confident when it comes time to purchase. Cost Effective Many of the cloud collaboration perks are linked to its cost-effectiveness. Unlike the age-old, on premise software, you don’t have to invest in pricey infrastructure with cloud-based collaborative tools. They also eradicate the need for expensive customization and heavy IT involvement. Following the pay-as-you-go model, cloud collaboration is indeed a cost effective solution for tech-businesses. The computer billing method, under this utility, only requires you to pay for procured, rather than actual computer resources. This means, instead of paying for an entire infrastructure in the case of in-house IT department, you only have to pay for the services used in a given month. Since cloud-based collaboration allows employees to work from remote locations, you can actually cut off office overheads, making it especially beneficial for entrepreneurial ventures that usually have a strict work budget. After subtracting the upfront and extensive capital expense, you can also mitigate project risk by using cloud technology to your advantage. Everything is web-based, which means no time-consuming installation, system configuration or maintenance involved either. Thus, as a part of tech-service industry, you don’t have to bother about constant updates or server upkeep. Boosts The Project Management Process The ability to connect people to share information when it’s most needed is one of the key advantages of cloud collaboration tools. Besides, it helps businesses streamline the documentation process by keeping all project related files within the same workspace, allowing them to manage everything in a single domain; the cloud. With these collaborative project management tools, you can retain archived versions of all your information and update them in real time. Additionally, your team members can add tasks and comments to each file, providing you with a detailed audit trail of all project related interactions. You can even create and manage task lists, making your overall project management much faster and simpler. According to a 2014 Software Advice study, thousands of interviewed buyers, shopping for the right project management tool, revealed that around 46% of small business consumers were using manual methods like email, pens, papers and Excel. But companies that have a cloud-based deployment preference voted for cloud solutions over on-site disposal. And the biggest chunk, around 98% of them looked for project management as one of the integrated services in their cloud collaboration tools. The challenging aspect of projecting across various stand-alone platforms makes the reason behind such preferences quite obvious. Nonetheless, the key is to find a collaborative tool that helps you create and manage milestones and goals seamlessly to keep your project on track. Syncing Files & Data By hosting the on-going project documents, shareable records, presentations and more in the cloud, your files are automatically synced and available from any of your devices. Without any additional action required to access the file, a presentation can be uploaded from your work computer and further presented from your tablet at home. You can also easily share documents with your co-workers without the need to remain in the same office. Greater Scalability Cloud based technologies are famously known for their flexibility and scalability. Using a cloud-based collaboration tool, you can start small and add on the resources as the demand increases. It is often the case for start-ups that the number of participants and the volume of contributions increase rapidly in-between projects. Under cloud collaboration, it becomes easier to cater to such growing demands without adding much cost. The most important benefit of cloud tools is they allow you to scale for users, workload and adoption. You can, therefore, accommodate the growth seamlessly. Without making any infrastructure investment, you only have to pay for additional storage and users as you need them. Additionally, you can manage peaks in demand by automatically allocating managing team performance and capacity when facing data-intensive periods. This helps you achieve greater organizational agility. In Conclusion The outlook of cloud collaboration is such that it serves companies and the mobile workforce with multiple locations and allows remote workers to access information seamlessly across devices, helping them to become more productive at work. Upon understanding the real benefits of cloud collaboration, you will also realise that its goal is to provide a natural working experience with your team members, even when that’s not the case.
Rated 4.0/5
based on 20 customer reviews
243
- by Evie Harrison
- 27 Apr 2017
According to Forbes Insights: Collaboration in the Cloud,the ability t... Read More
Why Businesses Will Grow Faster with Cloud technology
By Kamy Anderson
Cloud technology can be described as an Internet-based technology that enables shared computer data and processing resources to computers connected and other relative devices. Users and enterprises are provided with the platform of diverse capabilities by which they can process and store their data instead of computer’s hard drive. Either this platform can be owned privately or by a third party which may be located anywhere in the universe. Cloud-Based LMS Software is helping businesses to grow at a faster pace across the globe in a way users never imagined. It enables businesses to transit up or down rapidly giving much-required flexibility when responding to varying customer demands. It also eradicates geographic limitations and unlocks new markets that were until that time not accessible. Learning Management System (LMS) is a cloud-based software tool used to deliver content and resources to the end user. It enhances the prosperity of sales and today, it is widely known across the world for its huge effect on small and large scales businesses. There are different reasons startups should swith to cloud storage Here are six advantages of cloud LMS, which can make your business grow quickly. Business transformation Changing to the cloud is not about technology alone, it is about transforming your business from operational methods to organizational configurations. The cloud-LMS is enabling new players to swiftly move in and scale up. It is also breeding new commercial models by changing the ways companies are structured evidence from how IT departments are increasingly incorporated it into set-ups. It is safe to say information sharing and business administration have been transformed through enlarged data analytics. Steady connection amongst employees With the advancement in technology, the office working culture has transformed considerably. Thanks to cloud-LMS, it is ensuring employees keep in constant touch via their, phones, tablets and laptop. Business environment today as we know is ever changing, hence it is important that employees at all ranks have a steady access to get the data they need, anytime, anywhere. No matter the device that employees use, they need access to the data and means that will allow them to make necessary business decisions in real-time and complete any task given competently, wherever they may be. It is a well-known fact that only cloud-based technology can provide that access. According to an article published in Entrepreneur, it is expected that by 2020, there will be eight billion people connected to networks. Cloud technology is the real deal for the future and it is going to be an important factor in how the data we are all generating are being collected, analyzed and stored. In fact, cloud technology is something every organization has to embrace, in order to stay ahead. Cost reduction In addition to how cloud keeps employees connected, it also helps reduce costs, maintains scalability and flexibility as business prospers. Cloud-based LMS enables automation where there will be no need to invest heavily in IT support in order to maintain updated information. IT support cost is reduced and there is a reduced amount of capital expenditures also. To maintain your own network, you have to be ready for the required manual maintenance cost, but now you can evade this task and your network will be automatically managed and monitored by your cloud host. It is rapidly becoming a warehouse of data and since data created online is being utilized through cloud, it enables cloud-based devices to interact efficiently and there by results in more benefits for businesses. The cost of the yearly upgrade of the IT support has now become the responsibility of your cloud host. Opening door to international data markets Cloud technology is also opening door to international markets, evidence from Google’s pronouncement to open its cloud-based app constructing gears to run on other companies’ servers, linked through AppScale’s technology. This development truly answers the data residency questions and that of cloud balkanization laws, which command data use and storage directions, in some countries. It now gives room for engineers also to operate this cloud-to-cloud connection and use it to run their apps from on-site data centers in countries that necessitate it, thereby giving access to massive groups of possible users. Productivity Companies nowadays have an increased opportunity to work smarter, faster and more competently because of them being able to access everything they need from anywhere across the globe simply by internet connection. Each working hour can be maximized fully with the opportunity to work remotely via cloud-LMSlms. This in no doubt makes them effective even when they are not physically present in the office, thereby increases productivity. Conclusion The word ‘’cloud’’ is a just metaphor, in case you ever wondered, that is being used for the Internet. It solely relies on sharing resources available in order to attain consistency. It is certain that as businesses grow, the need to keep more records of products and that of the staff and customers will scale up. However, the best way to do this is by investing in technology that will aid in managing the development. Carefully go through the aforementioned benefits, you would understand what cloud technology is capable of and why cloud-LMS is being swiftly used by modern businesses that are keen to succeed and improve ROI.
Rated 4.0/5
based on 20 customer reviews
185
- by Kamy Anderson
- 10 Apr 2017
Cloud technology can be described as an Internet-based technology that... Read More
5 Reasons Your Startup Should Switch To Cloud Storage Immediately
By Audrey Throne
Cloud computing is by far the most hyperbolic technology of the last decade that has redefined the way businesses compete in today’s world. In the simplest of terms, cloud offers a savvy, multi-purpose and versatile alternative to local storage by allowing your business to access and store your information on an external platform. It has become such a normal part of our lives that even if you haven’t already used cloud for your startup, you’re probably already using it for day-to-day functions such as interacting on social media, making online transactions and checking your email. These umpteen advantages of cloud have caused its adoption rates to soar to an astonishing 95% as reported by the State of Cloud Survey, 2016.As per survey there are many cloud computing benefits for startups, especially for businesses in particular, migration to cloud has transcended from a viable option to a modern day necessity if they intend to attain a sustainable competitive advantage. Why so, let’s a deeper look: 1) Cost-effective: Probably the strongest argument in cloud’s favor I is the cost-effectiveness that it offers. This cost-effectiveness becomes possible because cloud eliminates the need for physical or hardware storage and doesn’t require additional IT professionals for equipment maintenance. This can significantly reduce costs because even though physical storage devices, hard drives and paper may not be expensive on their own, they lead to occupation of useful office space and also require administrative efforts for maintenance. According to a study, by switching from paper to mobile a field team of 5 people can save up to 12,000 USD each year. Therefore, moving to a virtual storage not only becomes financially feasible but also avoids unnecessary administrative hassle. Additionally, cloud storage allows you to pay for what you use and only when you use it. This is because with cloud you need not anticipate how much storage space you might need in a year’s time and then pay for it in advance. Instead, you can merely adjust your storage capacity via your service provider as and when needed and pay accordingly. 2) Mobile: Cloud storage is spearheading the transformation of traditional offices by providing an unprecedented degree of mobility. With cloud, the only thing your employees need to stay informed is internet connectivity. Previously, businesses used to favor SaaS platforms because they could be accessed anywhere with a computer and internet access. However, today it has become impractical to restrict yourself to a desktop-only software especially since cloud offers better accessibility than SaaS platforms and at a fraction of the cost. The reason is that cloud allows you to access and modify your information via laptops, PCs as well as mobile phones and tablets. This functionality makes cloud ideal for any business that wishes to move beyond a traditional office setup to reap the benefits of remote teams and telecommuting. In addition to this, cloud also supports the development of website and mobile applications that further enhance your work flexibility and communication. 3) Secure: Physical storage devices are prone to system malfunction, a hazard that is overcome almost entirely when you move to cloud storage. While nothing is 100% secure, cloud does offer the safest available way to store data which protects information via firewalls, encryption as well as malware protection. The level of security provided by cloud supersedes that which is provided in-house because of the fact that information security is among the primary responsibilities of cloud storage providers. For this, they deploy technology experts along with a wide array of specialized equipment that are over and beyond what businesses are capable of implementing in-house. The entire security framework also includes enhanced encryption protocols, biometric locks and surveillance equipment. It is for this reason that nearly 85% of small business are reported to be confident in their cloud storage provider’s ability to provide a secure environment for their data. In addition to safeguarding against cyber attacks, cloud storage also comes packed with a wide variety of backup and disaster recovery provisions so that even if a mishap does take place, your data would stay untouched. This is because it allows for constant duplication of your information which can be retrieved if something were to happen to your current storage platform. 4) Integration: One misconception that discourages startup owners from migrating to cloud is that they may lose some of their legacy information or have difficulty integrating on-premise and SaaS platforms with cloud. This couldn’t be farther from the truth because cloud in no way requires labor-intensive extract, transfer and load (ETL) procedures. In fact, IT service providers can very conveniently extract information from SaaS tools and on-premise systems and integrate them with public and proprietary data sources. Moreover, there are numerous solutions that offer APIs that are capable of being connected to software that perform other tasks thus allowing you to improve your business’s bottom line. 5) Collaborative: The ubiquitous use of internet has enabled start-ups to expand their operations to the farthest corners of the world by making efficient use of remote teams a capability which has in many ways been facilitated by the use of collaborative tools such as cloud. Cloud-based document sharing allows on-site and off-site team members to work simultaneously on a file causing the time cost of projects to reduce considerably. Moreover, cloud-based document sharing is much more secure than email correspondence as it only allows authorized individuals to access and modify documents. In the days to come, cloud storage and computing will cease to be an option so it is imperative that you jump aboard the cloud bandwagon as soon as possible so that you can not only capitalize on its advantages but also evolve alongside a rapidly evolving technology.
Rated 4.0/5
based on 20 customer reviews
212
- by Audrey Throne
- 03 Mar 2017
Cloud computing is by far the most hyperbolic technology of the last d... Read More
How Start Ups Can Benefit From Cloud Computing?
By Usha Sunil
From nebulous beginnings, the cloud has grown to a platform that has gained universal acceptance and is transforming businesses across industries. Companies that have adopted cloud technology have seen significant payoffs, with cloud based tools redefining their data storage, data sharing, marketing and project management capabilities. The easy availability of affordable cloud infrastructure has made it so easy to set up new businesses that the economy is all set for a start up boom which has its head, so to speak, in the cloud! With the advent of this new technology, complete newbie’s in the market are able to hold their own against established market players—by achieving an amazing quantum of work using skeleton manpower resources. Recently, a popular ad doing the rounds on TV showed a long haired youth conducting business from a cafe on his HP Pavilion laptop, where he is ridiculed by some well heeled middle aged businessmen on their coffee break. Back at their office, they find that this youngster is the new investor that their boss has been heaping accolades on. “Where’s your office?” one of them asks the young man…to be laughingly told that he carries his entire office in his laptop! And that, typically, is how the new-age start up business looks. We have heard many stories of how a clever idea has turned a tidy profit for a smart entrepreneur working out of his laptop. While cloud computing is pushing the boundaries of science and innovation into a new realm, it is also laying the foundation for a new wave of business start ups. New ventures in general suffer from a lack of infrastructure, manpower and funding…and all these three concerns are categorically addressed by the cloud. Moving to the cloud minimizes the need of huge capital investments to set up expensive infrastructure. For nascent entrepreneurs, physical hardware and server costs used to be formidable given the limited budgets at their disposal. Seed money was also required to hire office space, promote the business and hire workers. Today, thanks to cloud technology, getting a new business off the ground and running costs virtually nothing. Most of the resources and tools that new ventures need are available on the cloud at minimal costs, in fact quite often at zero costs, making this a powerful value proposition for small businesses. A cloud hosting provider such as AWS can enable you to go live immediately, and will even scale up to your requirement once your business expands. Small businesses can think and dream big with the cloud. When it comes to manpower resources, it takes just a handful of people to work wonders using the online resources that are at their disposal. If you have a brilliant idea and have a workable plan for execution, you can comfortably compete neck to neck with market leaders. The messaging sensation WhatsApp was started in 2009 by just two former Yahoo employees who leveraged the power of the internet – and this goes to show that clever use of technology can completely eliminate the need for a sizeable manpower pool. Start ups have always been more agile than their large scale counterparts, and the cloud helps them take this a step further. Resources can be scaled up or down in no time, whereas in traditional environments it would have taken many days, considerable planning and funds to add hardware and software. Cloud computing also helps improve collaboration across teams, often across geographies. Data sharing is instantaneous, and teams can work on a task together in real time regardless of their location. Powered by the cloud, small businesses operate with shoestring budgets and key players in different continents. All their accounting, client data, marketing and other business critical files can be stored online and are accessible from anywhere. These online tools can be accessed and utilised instantly, and underpin all the crucial processes on which these businesses thrive. Strategic financial decisions are made after garnering insights from cloud-based accounting software. E-invoicing helps settle bills in a fraction of the time of traditional billing systems, and client queries are answered quickly through cloud-based management systems—saving precious time and increasing customer satisfaction levels to an all-time high. Whether at home, on vacation or on the phone, businesses can oversee sales, replenish products and plan new sales strategies. That’s a whole new way of doing business, and seems to be very successful! An estimate by Cloudworks has put the anticipated cloud computing market at over $200 billion by the year 2018. As Jeff Weiner, CEO of LinkedIn, succinctly put it, the cloud “makes it easier and cheaper than ever for anyone anywhere to be an entrepreneur and to have access to all the best infrastructure of innovation.” With cloud technology rapidly levelling the playing field between nascent and established businesses, it is anybody’s guess as to just how many new start ups will burst into the scene in the next few years.
Rated 4.0/5
based on 20 customer reviews
281
- by Usha Sunil
- 01 May 2016
From nebulous beginnings, the cloud has grown to a platform that has g... Read More