What is cloud computing?

We’re sure you’ve heard all about “the Cloud” before, but do you know what it actually means?

Well, it means different things to different people; but in the small business world it refers to services that you receive over the internet, available any time and anywhere, and almost always paid for monthly.

There is a lot of buzz, and a lot of hype, surrounding cloud services; and it can seem like you have no choice but to move “to the cloud” if your business is going to survive this cloudy revolution. However nothing could be further from the truth.

Cloud services can provide your business with flexible, scalable, and affordable alternatives to in-house systems; however it is not always the best option. Read on to learn more about the cloud and what it can potentially do for your business.

Why is everyone going cloud crazy?

The cloud has increased in popularity in recent times, with hundreds of “apps” and services being marketed at making small business more mobile, more profitable, or better protected.

This increase in popularity, and the buzz it has generated is partly due to increased internet bandwidth, and improved cloud service offerings making the cloud a genuinely more appealing prospect to businesses.

But it is partly due to a huge marketing hype driven by cloud service providers to give the impression that the cloud is a revolution in business computing, and that in order to survive you should be adopting these services immediately.

If you used Hotmail when it was first launched, back in 1996, you have been using cloud services for 17 years! Some of the cloud services that you see advertised are genuinely new and innovative. Others have simply added the word “cloud” to something that has existed for year – in order to make it more appealing to those following the hype.

Should I get cloud for my business?

Frustrating as it may be, the answer is a firm “maybe”. Whilst there is no doubt that the cloud has lots of positives, it is very unlikely that your business would benefit by moving every service into the cloud. It is very likely that there are some services which would be of benefit, but it is important to understand the pros and cons before moving to a cloud service.

Some pros of using cloud services are:

• Reduced up-front costs as you won’t need to buy so much equipment of your own.
• Increased flexibility as your data and applications are available online rather than in a fixed location. This means it is easier for your employees to work from home or on the road, improving productivity and responsiveness.
• Increased “uptime” and reduced risk as your services will be hosted on multiple servers in multiple datacentres, rather than on one server in your office.
• Cloud based backup can protect you from localised disasters such as fire, theft, flooding.
• Most cloud services are billed on a “per user” or “per GB” basis, making it very easy to increase and decrease the amount you pay in line with your requirements.

And some cons:

• As the cloud relies on the internet in order for you to access your data or services, if you lose your internet access you lose your connection to your information. Before opting for cloud services it is important to make sure that your internet connection is sufficiently strong, and reliable. If your connection to the internet is slow, then access to your cloud services will be slow.
• Cloud services are not always the cheapest option. If driving down cost is your goal, do not presume that cloud services are automatically the right answer.
• By placing your data or your applications outside of your controlled environment you are giving up control to a 3rd party. If there is a problem with the service, or you lose access to your data you are totally reliant on your cloud service provider to help you. In order to overcome this you need to make sure you know who is ultimately responsible for providing your services, and how to contact support should there be a problem.
• By placing your data into “the cloud” it could be physically stored anywhere in the world. Whilst your data may be defined as “yours” by the terms & conditions of the service you have signed up to, it will ultimately be under the control of whichever sovereign state it is stored in. If your data is stored in the USA, it is open to investigation by the US government, should they wish to analyse it. It is important to understand this, especially if your data is of a sensitive nature.

How can First Stop IT help you?

It may well be that your business systems will function better if some of your services are moved to the cloud. However we don’t believe it an “off-the-shelf” solution for everyone; different businesses have different needs and we can help you understand which cloud services are suitable for your business and which cloud services will not benefit you.

Want to chat about the cloud? Fill in the form at the bottom of the page and we’ll get back to you, or alternatively give us a call on 0845 458 0553.