Cloud computing is a concept that has been around for years but has many people confused about what Cloud is. The hype says “The Cloud” can save you a bit of money on software, higher end hardware, upgrading costs and services. But what is it really?

Instead of purchasing hardware and software for your office, you can use cloud computing to put your programs on a highly secure “super server” online. All you need is an Internet connection to your office and you’re in business.

For example, Google is a massive, free cloud application – the power required to search billions of web sites and content in seconds and deliver the relevant results to your screen far exceeds the capacity of your PC. Facebook is another free cloud application that allows you to post pictures and connect with your friends in real time without having to install any software on your computer. Of course, there are also applications such as Salesforce, Constant Contact, SurveyMonkey, etc., that you pay to use. It is quickly becoming unnecessary for some businesses to purchase and maintain an on-site server. Now companies can host one or more of their applications, data, e-mail and other functions “in the cloud.” That simply means it’s stored off-site in a highly secure, high-availability “utility” company that has far more power and resources than you could ever logically have on-site as a small business. And with devices getting cheaper and Internet connectivity exploding, cloud computing is suddenly a very smart, viable option for some small business owners

There ARE some serious considerations to think about before moving your company to “The Cloud”. Things like; Where is the data actually stored? If outside of Canada, under what laws and legal jurisdiction does your data reside? Who maintains ownership of the data? Confidentiality agreements between parties? How do you choose a solid Cloud provider?

Call me at 506-383-2895 if you are interested in learning more about the Cloud, the possible benefits to your company and how to avoid common costly pitfalls.