3 Cloud Computing Mistakes Businesses Should Avoid

Small business owners accept that they need to find alternative solutions to issues that larger organizations can just throw money at. Money is often tight for a small business and no where is this more evident than when dealing in technology. Larger organizations can afford state-of-the art IT, but thanks to the cloud, your business can experience enterprise-level IT at a price that makes sense for your budget.

One place where smaller organizations can save money is by utilizing the resources found in the cloud. When considering a switch to the cloud, many smaller organizations don't take into account all the factors that are associated with moving their business' computing offsite before agreeing to make the switch. Here are three concepts to consider when thinking about moving your organization's computing to the cloud.

Inflated Expectations
One of the top issues business owners and CIOs will run into when purchasing cloud computing infrastructure are inflated expectations of the virtual hardware. Many vendors sell their cloud solutions as a replacement for in-house computing infrastructure. This is a new and dynamic medium, but users have to consider what it's replacing. Not all cloud solutions delivered through a broadband connection can match the capabilities of an in-house server. Hosting email, documents, and database-driven applications are natural solutions for the cloud - running intense graphics and video rendering applications can require more specific hardware depending on your needs. We always encourage businesses to talk to us when it comes to what to expect from the cloud.

Use Cloud Computing to Solely Drive Down Costs
One of the variables that gets organizations to switch to cloud computing is the savings it promise to provide. By outsourcing your computing infrastructure, you don't have to purchase or maintain a central computing infrastructure, saving your organization money. The problem is that if you are doing this just for the cost savings, you are likely not doing it for the right reason. The reasons to utilize cloud computing are numerous. They include:

• Streamline business processes.
• Mobile device integration.
• Flexible computing environments.
• Scale storage to meet your needs.
• many more...

Relying exclusively on the cost savings to see value out of your cloud resources doesn't do justice to just how dynamic hosted solutions can be for your business.

Confusion Over Cloud Security
Cloud security is the biggest question mark most people have when considering a jump to the cloud. Since your files are available from virtually everywhere, many people take this as them being openly accessible. This couldn't be further for the truth. While not all cloud providers are equal, Macro Systems understands the intense value of your data. We feel that a solution isn't worth considering if it doesn't handle security and retention (not all providers feel quite the same way). Careful monitoring, data backup, and strict authentication methods can keep your vital data safe from prying eyes and honest mistakes.

Most new cloud subscribers like the concept of paying a fraction of what they normally pay for the computing they need, but before leveraging the cloud for mission-critical tasks, taking the time to understand your cloud's security is best practice.

Cloud computing can be just what your company needs to streamline processes and get more productive, but before it does all that, you should understand how the cloud works and where the value lies in order to get the most out of your cloud solution. At Macro Systems, we provide enterprise-level IT solutions to small and mid-sized businesses locally and we can provide your organization with the most comprehensive cloud solutions for your needs. For more information, call us today at 703-359-9211.