The advent of the cloud computing has had almost as much impact on the ways in which we do business as the computer itself did decades ago. Using keyboards instead of typewriters made completing tasks more efficient, but everything was still done in pretty much the same way.

Now we have the cloud, and it’s put everyone on a new learning curve, ushering in new efficiency and ways of working. These new ways are rapidly becoming mainstream.

Just about everyone has the Internet, and now it’s time to make those high speed connections really earn their keep.

Research indicates that around 45% of companies find securing new digital systems a big challenge. We hope to clear up some of the misunderstandings that contribute to this challenge.

Understanding What the Cloud (and cloud computing) Is

It’s not just another way of storing important documents. Most of us use cloud computing all the time. When we search on Google, for instance, or access Gmail. The computer we use doesn’t hold the information, it simply makes the connection to the place that does.

So to with the cloud for business. Office 365 is far more than an online version of the well-known Office suite of apps most of us grew up using.

Computing in the cloud for business is usually a managed service. These are the types of managed services, with common usage examples drawn from everyday online life:

• Infrastructure as a Service (Iaas) you pay for access to infrastructure such as servers and storage. An example in everyday use is web hosting, where you pay a subscription for storage on the hosts servers.
• Software as a Service (SaaS)  the software you use is hosted outside your network. Office 365 is SaaS, but so is Google Documents or a web-based email service.
• Platform as a Service (Paas) you may choose PaaS if, for example, you are developing an e-Commerce website. The shopping cart and payment method will likely run from the merchant’s server.

Taking advantage of a managed IT service frees you from the worry or expense of maintaining your own servers, and means there is always help on hand should you need it.

Understanding Pricing in the Cloud

Office 365 has various pricing plans, depending on the level of service you need and how many users you have. Part of the beauty of a system like this lies in the scalability. As your company grows, so do the demands on your IT system. With Office 365 and OneDrive for Business cloud storage, everything you need is accessible and you only pay for the level of service your business needs. When you need more, you can get more.

Security Issues

Not all cloud-based systems are equal. When you’re considering migrating to the cloud, choose a vendor with a good reputation who’s been around a while. Your provider should be able to reassure you about security issues and data compliance if that affects your business.

As a Tier-1 Managed Microsoft Partner we are often privy to glimpses of future technology and, as such, can help future proof your system. It’s understandable that many businesses have concerns about migrating to the cloud, but we’re here to allay any fears and explain the how, why and where of it all. Call us today if you need some help with Office 365.