What is “Cloud Computing”?
There has been a great deal of talk recently about cloud computing and that it is the way that all computing is headed, but not many people understand what it is. Essentially speaking cloud computing is about putting certain software applications in the “cloud”. This is a phrase which is used to describe the internet based on how it is typically shown in network diagrams.
So what does cloud computing bring that was not there before?
What cloud computing brings is the ability for small businesses to run applications which typically can only be afforded by larger businesses. This is made possible by having low start-up costs. For example we have started providing hosted Microsoft Exchange 2007 which gives 10GB of storage, ExchangeDefender spam filtering, Microsoft Sharepoint, Microsoft Forefront which costs £10 per mailbox per month. For a small business of 3 users this would mean a monthly cost of £30, giving an annual cost of £360 for the three users. If you compare this with the cost of a typical Microsoft Small Business server entry level cost of approx £1,000 plus installation of around £750 then hosted applications make more sense.
What other benefits are there?
With hosted application you are able to access your application regardless of location which means that any of the users can work so long as they have an internet connection, given the rapid growth of communications this means users can work from almost anywhere. Also with hosted application the provider typically will take care of backups so it is no longer your worry.
Whether it is suitable for your business is an individual decision based on your needs. If you would like to discuss this further please feel free to contact us for a free consultation.
Tags: cloud, cloud computing, Small Business
