There are as many different opinions about cloud computing as there are actual clouds in the sky. And, like the clouds, the opinions are changing all the time. As a business owner, you have little time available to research emerging technologies and their relevance for your business. Nevertheless, cloud computing is a serious consideration that, if thoughtfully introduced, could improve both the productivity and profitability of your business. This is exactly why we recommend you talk to experts who have the knowledge and experience to awnser all your cloud questions, starting with the most simple: what, where and should you?

What is the cloud?

In the simplest terms, cloud computing means storing and accessing data and programs over the internet instead of on your computer’s hard drive or local networked storage drive.

Where is the cloud?

When you put your data into the cloud you’re handing it over to a provider who may have data centres in many different cities, countries and continents. While it might feel pretty cool to access your data from anywhere, it’s important you know where your data is going to be hosted for a whole range of reasons including security, IP and regulations.

Should we be there?

The answer to this question is a matter of understanding your needs are and making the simple cost comparison between local access to your data and applications compared to remote access. There are a lot of variables to consider, such as like the amount and type of your data, the speed of accessing that data locally versus remotely and what internet infrastructure is available to you at what cost?

All the way, decide to stay or partly play?

Our client base is made up of a mixture of the above. While we have some clients who have great internet at a reasonable price and are fully in the cloud, the majority are still completely on premises or run a hybrid with some cloud services, such as Office 365 hosted mail, and some local data and apps on site.

At CNAE we have access to a large range of hosting options and providers from hosted mail, local and overseas data centres, hosted Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) or Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) to renting your own space at a data centre and housing your own equipment there.

At the end of the day it’s about finding the best overall solution for your business for the right monthly cost. Whether you’re considering storage in the cloud and/or on the premises, get in touch with CNAE and we can help you compare the options by showing you the monthly cost of each one.

For more about cloud computing, contact John: jd@cnae.com.au | 0438 113 358 | (07) 5436 9777.