Introducing Cloud Computing to Your Business

You’ve probably heard about the cloud and how businesses are taking advantage of it, but due to the way it's marketed and all the different tasks that it’s capable of, there may be some confusion as to how it works and how exactly it can be a game-changer for your business.

At Preferred we hope to clear this up a bit. The cloud takes some of your existing IT infrastructure and eliminates it from your office. Cloud computing comes in many different shapes and sizes based on your needs. For example, here’s a quick overview of cloud computing’s three most popular models.

• Private Cloud Computing: With the private cloud, a business will utilize their own IT equipment to take advantage of the conveniences of cloud services. Companies that build and maintain a private cloud infrastructure have more control over their data. Businesses that store their data on a private cloud computing network is responsible for their own security and maintenance.
• Public Cloud Computing: With the public cloud, businesses migrate their entire IT infrastructure over to a public cloud service. This form of cloud computing is driven by lower costs and higher levels of convenience. Since public cloud services are a subscription service, there’s a risk of being overcharged if entire private networks are migrated without adequately putting thought into which IT services may be best served if hosted in-house versus publicly over the cloud.
• Hybrid Cloud Computing: Then there’s hybrid cloud computing, which combines aspects of both the public and private cloud. This hybrid cloud model allows for companies to store their sensitive data on a private cloud without risking their network exposure to the outside, while still making use of external resources to run applications that need this data. For many SMBs, a variation of this hybrid cloud computing model is the best option.

As you can see, cloud computing isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution, which is why many businesses have trouble implementing the cloud. A business that simply tells a cloud service provider, “We want the cloud,” without first taking the time to learn about the different cloud computing models and cloud service options, may end up with a public cloud when a private cloud is a better fit, or a hybrid cloud when they really need a public cloud offering, or any other cloud scenario that’s just a wrong fit.

Preferred can migrate your IT needs to the cloud, leaving IT maintenance and management responsibilities on us, while freeing up space, lowering utility bills, and greatly reducing the overhead of having to handle all your IT needs in house. Depending on your needs, cloud solutions can handle your data storage, replace servers, and even dish out desktop environments so your employees can access their data and applications from anywhere and on any device.

If you’re looking to save money, reduce your overhead, and free yourself so you can focus on your business, instead of your technology, contact Preferred today at 708-781-7110 and ask us about our cloud solutions.