If your business is even remotely technology-focused, there’s a good chance you’ve at least heard about this thing we call the cloud. You may even have heard that it’s how forward-looking organizations are improving productivity while lowering costs.
Well, the rumors are true, and cloud computing is here to stay. The big question, however, is how you will utilize it to help your business stay competitive.
For cloud-challenged small businesses – and yes, that’s still most of them – getting started with cloud computing may seem like an uphill climb. Here’s how to overcome the obstacles in your path and harness the power of cloud-based applications.
1. Dispel all cloud myths.
There are some nasty rumors going around about cloud computing. Most are based on hearsay, and some are just outright false.
Like the one about how storing critical data in the cloud makes it less secure – a notion that completely ignores how high redundancy storage offers much greater data security than what many organizations provide in-house. Or the one about less uptime for cloud-based apps or the idea that providers aren’t liable for server problems that prevent users from accessing data.
Those rumors are false, too. But it doesn’t stop many people from believing them.
Getting business partners and employees to back your effort to phase in cloud computing might mean dispelling many of these common myths. So educate your team! And be sure to explain why using cloud apps will benefit not just the organization generally, but also the users themselves.
2. Create a plan.
Failing to plan means planning to fail. Period.
Once everyone in your circle is on board and ready to propel your organization into cloud greatness, come up with a step-by-step process for making it all happen. Depending on your needs, this process might involve hiring technology consultants, holding vendor meetings, or setting up weekly sessions for the development team to make suggestions or even air grievances.
Weave a timeline into your plan, and do your very best to follow it.
3. Overcome technical obstacles.
If moving everything to the cloud was as easy as downloading an app and creating logins for your users, we’d have all done it a long time ago.
The truth is, many organizations will find bringing everything into the cloud a laborious and technically difficult endeavor. Sure, the end result is that everything runs more efficiently. But nobody ever said getting to that point would necessarily be a walk in the park.
Integration tools can alleviate many common technical frustrations. And for organizations using popular legacy systems, it may even be possible for developers to build custom integrations with the new cloud services.
Anticipate technical obstacles before they appear, and decide how you’ll handle them while you’re still in the planning stage.
4. Choose the best apps.
This may just be the easiest part.
With so many new, slick-looking apps competing for our attention, figuring out which one to use could seem daunting at first. Thankfully, getting up to speed on the exact functionalities you need will become pretty apparent in the planning stage. After that, narrowing it down to just a few vendors shouldn’t be too difficult.
Learn what others in your industry are using. View demonstrations. Hold meetings. When all is said and done, you want to feel sure you chose the right applications.
Because using the best tools available is what will make your organization more productive and efficient. It’s why you decided to do this cloud “thing” in the first place.
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I wonder How i respond , i heard so many negitive points about cloud hosting that i fear tp use this technology for our business.
Many says cloud is not good for big sites ,some says cloud is not secure ,etc etc..
Twitter: raajtram
says:
Hi Adam. Nice article here!
Yes, planning is the most important according to me!
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Twitter: davesnape
says:
Hi Adam, thanks for sharing this information on cloud computing. It sounds like a great idea. But I guess that small companies, for the most part, don’t really need it?
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Twitter: IAmAdamGreen
says:
Even one-man/one-woman operations can benefit from cloud computing. In my case, it’s how I can access all my documents from any computer anywhere in the world. Apps like Dropbox make this simple. Google Docs, too.
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I could see how it might be a route to go for big companies and corporations. The cloud is something I see and hear about often. I don’t have a need for most cloud based products and services at the moment, but who knows I might in the future.
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Twitter: 372829605
says:
I am starting to use cloud services more and more for my business. For one thing it frees up data storage on my hard drive and then it makes that data much more accessible via other access points.
I have to say cloud computing does scare me a bit. The whole “What happens if my cloud goes bust” etc but I am guessing with the bigger names being involved now get a lot of people signing up and taking advantage?
Twitter: IAmAdamGreen
says:
High redundancy means your data is backed up on highly-secured servers all over the world. A lot more secure than the store-bought external hard drive I used to use for backups.
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Twitter: IAmAdamGreen
says:
Ok, maybe not the world but at least the country
First off, great post. However I would’ve loved to hear your viewpoint on another cloud-computing myth which seems to be quite common from what I’ve seen, namely privacy. Privacy is an issue when it comes to cloud computing; do organizations trust companies with their data? How safe is the data that is stored on ‘the cloud’? We are trusting companies with reading our emails (Gmail), so why not trust them with our other data, right?
Secondly, what could services do you recommend for small and medium businesses?
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Twitter: IAmAdamGreen
says:
I think you hit the nail on the head when it comes to privacy. What services to I recommend for small businesses? That depends on what kind of business you run. There are always the very most basic cloud services – Dropbox, Google Docs, Gmail, et al. Then there are cloud-based CRM systems like SalesForce, invoicing systems like Freshbooks, accounting sytems like Kashoo or Xero. Those are some of the simplest (and least expensive) ways for the very smallest of businesses to move to the cloud.
But if you run, say… an insurance agency, you might want to invest in a cloud-based agency management system. They make those just for insurance agencies, and they can be highly customized. It just depends on your needs and what’s available to help you.
Wonderfully crafted thoughts Adam. I would definitely prefer Cloud computing as it has made working a lot easier than before. And due to the centralized storage it’s easy to access data from anywhere. People shouldn’t be scared as the business data is stored in high-tech servers with the state-of-the-art facilities. With cloud computing working on-the-go has happens to have become easy.
Twitter: metabolicdiets
says:
Did apple make the cloud popular or was it there from before, though never heard about it before
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Twitter: IAmAdamGreen
says:
It has been around for a long time. Apple’s release of iCloud has helped bring cloud “lingo” to the public foray, though.
Twitter: ajithengg
says:
Hi Adam,
I like the”chose the best apps” part..thanks for sharing your knowledge about cloud computing..
already i had some doubts about it..now i am clear..thanks again..
Cheers…..
Ajith…
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