IT is in the cloud

Cloud computing is the latest innovation in the world of technology but many businesses are not 100% sure if its right for them, or even if they fully understand what it is and what it can offer. Here at Selection we have been helping clients in multiple sectors take their first steps into the cloud so we thought we’d share what those experiences have taught us.

So, starting with the complete basics:

What is cloud computing?

Cloud computing is the management and provision of applications, information and data that is stored on servers housed in a secure datacentre, which businesses can access from an internet enabled PC or other internet device.

What this basically means is you can use hardware and software that you don’t have to physically have at your location. So you no longer need to store information on your PC or mobile device as it can be quickly and easily accessed via the internet.

Webmail accounts such as Hotmail and Google provide services that are 'in the cloud' and now an increasing amount of business productivity software is also available in the cloud.

What’s different about cloud computing compared to traditional hosted solutions?

A cloud service has three main characteristics that make it different to traditional hosting.

1. It is sold on demand, typically on a monthly, annually or per-user basis.
2. It is more flexible - users can choose the services they need and have them for just as long as they need them.
3. It is fully managed by the provider.

When you buy cloud services from Selection we supply the hardware infrastructure along with some or all of the software, and your users interact with it through a front-end portal. The cloud offers a very broad market and the services delivered can range from web-based email and CRM (Customer Relationship Management) through to database processing. Because we host both the application and the data, you can use the service from anywhere.

What are the benefits of cloud computing?

It lets you use software on an on-demand basis so you don’t have any capital outlay for infrastructure, software implementation, maintenance, or upfront license fees. Moving your business into the cloud can improve employee productivity, protect against modern threats and risks, while reducing cost and freeing up IT time.

As it is all managed by the fully-accredited and qualified team here at Selection, it also means you get access to an enhanced skills base, increased levels of support and system availability, and faster application development, deployment and integration.

Because the services can be accessed through an online portal it means your staff can use them anywhere with internet access, meaning they can be fully productive even when they are mobile and travelling overseas. It also allows your working practices to be more flexible as you no longer need to work in the office to access your systems or network.
The environment benefits too as cloud services are considered to be ‘green computing’ meaning they deliver energy efficient use of computing resources. This is achieved in a number of ways, many of which also bring cost-efficiencies to your budgets:

1. You don’t need to run servers in your office, meaning you use less electricity so both your energy bills and carbon emissions are lower.
2. Your staff can easily work from home so the environmental impact of their daily commute to the office can be lowered.
3. Meetings can be held online meaning lower travel costs and less carbon emissions from travel to meetings.
4. You need less computers in the office, cutting your spend on hardware and on the electricity to power them. And again, less electricity used means less impact on the environment.

Want to know more? Call or email our dedicated team who can help you understand how cloud services could work for your business on 0844 874 2012 or cloudenquiries@selection.co.uk

Or request a call back at a time convenient to you, all we ask is you give us 24 hours to turn the request round (or slightly longer if you ask at the weekend).