As a technology services provider, we find ourselves repeatedly answering the same question for our customers: Which Cloud is Right for Me?
Deciding whether or not to move your business into the cloud can be a complex decision – mainly because of all the options available on the market today. Type the word Cloud in any search engine and you will find a million different possible choices. Trying to sift through all of the options for many business owners can be a difficult task on a good day. Here are a few pointers that I found to be helpful when taking that first foray out into the wonderful world of Cloud technology.
First, evaluate your current business environment and decide what actually needs to be in the cloud. Knowing what information you want to be in the Cloud is a critical step in determining the type of technology you will need. Listed below are a few examples of what you may want to put into the Cloud:
- Regular backups of your critical data.
- Web access/hosting of software applications you may use such as ACT!, Outlook, QuickBooks etc.
- Files you want to be able to share with other users in your organization or trusted business partner.
Once you have decided what information you want in the Cloud, the next step is to decide what type of Cloud works best for you. Common types of Cloud (i.e. hosted solutions) include:
- Hosted data services – This form of hosting is great for off-site backups or hosting of a particular software application (like ACT!, Outlook or QuickBooks). A hosted data service enables you to pick and choose what areas of your business need to be in the cloud.
- Hosted servers – This is a great option to consider if you looking to share files, share multiple applications or possibly put your entire company’s data and computing power in the cloud. Due to the multitude of options in this area, our term “hosted servers” is a generic term and for the purposes of this article, serves as a guide rather than an exact type of service.
A third area to consider relates to some of the logistics of Cloud computing:
- Who within your company will need access to what’s in the Cloud?
- What additional hardware or software will you need to make your data easily accessible once it’s in the Cloud?
- How much space will you need to have hosted? This is particularly important when addressing the need for an online backup solution or the renting of server space.
By carefully considering the questions listed above, you have now armed yourself with enough information to start narrowing your focus for the type of Cloud that will best work for your business.
