The phrase “cloud computing” has become a synonymous phrase used in an everyday business environment. We often refer to cloud services as hosted or managed solutions, which are exactly the same thing.
Cloud computing can range from a multitude of services from hosted email exchanges and mailboxes to drop box folders, hosted software and virtualized computing.
The concept of cloud computing fills a perpetual need of IT: a way to increase capacity or add capabilities on the fly without investing in new infrastructure, training new personnel, or licensing new software. Cloud computing encompasses any subscription-based or pay-per-use service that, in real time over the Internet, extends IT's existing capabilities, saves you time and most importantly streamlines business processes.
Most cloud computing infrastructures consist of services delivered through data-centres, which creates a single point of access for our clients computing needs. Extech are also able to offer service level agreements on all of our hosted cloud solutions.
Cloud computing is typically run from a data-centre - a purpose built facility, providing significant power inputs complimented by generators and UPS (uninterruptible power supply) batteries. Sitting on very high speed fibre networks, data centres are specifically designed to optimise uptime and provide the right environments, cooling, humidity, power and security for today's IT equipment.
So, why should an organisation consider cloud computing with Extech?
1 - Cost
Having numerous IT servers, firewalls and duplicated equipment throughout a business's physical footprint is highly costly to deploy and maintain. Centralising your equipment within a data centre provides no duplication of equipment as satellite offices connect either via private telecommunications circuits or via the Internet. Web based services including corporate websites; intranets and extranets should be held within the data centre to ensure the quickest experience for the user and optimised uptime.
2 - Security
A data centre has physical security measures, such as pin, card and biometric security access procedures often complimented by security personnel. Authorised users only may enter and often this is on an escorted access. As the data is held centrally assuming the correct software defences are in place your data can not be compromised.
3 - Speed
These facilities generally have very high speedfibre networks providing almost infinite network access whether this is to local offices, suppliers, other stake-holders or to the public Internet.
4 - Back-Up and Restore
Centralising your data servers allows for efficient backups both by tape and using telecoms links. In addition, it allows for swift data restore as your technicians need only visit the one central site and not multiple office locations.
5 - Disaster Recovery
Most organisations now understand the need for a disaster recovery plan. This should always include process and practices engaged to restore data and applications, at least for your core workers, to ensure billing, payments, sales, operations and payment collection can be maintained. A data centre allows for all your data and applications to be held within a controlled environment, mitigating the risk of flood, fire, theft and other potential disasters.
6 - Fraud and E-Crime
Local servers holding business sensitive information have and still are targets for fraud and e-criminals. Replicating highly expensive security equipment and software is highly complex and maintenance is awkward. A centralised server farm allows for a reduction of equipment and software and provides technicians with a central storage location to protect.
7 - Best Practice
Well considered IT best practice now presents the data-centre as the core to efficient IT provision. Centralised control removes the need for individual software updates, patches and upgrades. IT departments can control equipment centrally and deploy new applications and services across their entire estate swiftly and securely.
8 - Virtual Teams and Collaboration
With numerous IT technical staff deployed throughout an organisations estate, there are staffing, management and control concerns. Centralised services make it easier to deploy collaboration tools such as "Sharepoint" and provide a central location for technical staff to deploy their services and work more effectively.
9 - E-Commerce
If your organisation collects payments via the public Internet then your systems should always be within the data-centre. The 'always-on' environment provides no bottle necking of Internet Access, constant power, environmental controls and therefore provides a consistent service to your customers, increasing the likelihood of repeat business and referrals.
10 - Convenience
Increasingly, an organisations staff may work for from home or from remote locations. All they need to connect to the corporate network, use the corporate applications and abide by corporate policies is a connection to the Internet. This then 'tunnels' through into the organisations services held within the data-centre and ensures employees can be productive even when they may be in a remote location or even overseas.
What to do next Get in contact to discuss your cloud computing requirements and enter a free prize draw to receive free corporate tickets to watch Brighton & Hove Albion FC*.
