Cloud computing is well on its way to becoming an accepted way of acquiring new applications and IT services. However, increasingly, IT departments are tightening their budgets and questioning the value proposition for the cloud.
We believe strongly that cloud strategies should be implemented for business value, and we spend considerable time helping our current and prospective clients move through this evaluation process. In some cases, the cloud may not make sense. However, in many cases, it will.
Is cloud computing really better, faster, cheaper?
What is the value proposition for the cloud? Clearly, the cloud can reduce your overhead, increase your mobility, fuel greater productivity, and still allow you to only pay for only what you need.
Here are “10 Cloud Benefits” to consider as you make the business case for moving to the cloud to your organization’s C-suite:
- Reduces costs. Cloud ROI can be measured in terms of reductions in CapEx (hardware and depreciation) and energy consumption. Or, it can also be measured in terms of business continuity (see #7 below). In the end, investing $60,000 or more in servers and software – not to mention intense training for the staff who manage them – is pointless when everything that you need is right in the cloud. Best of all, because cloud computing is like a utility (in that service costs are based on consumption), you pay only for what you use.
- Frees resources. No more patching, no more server hugging. With the cloud outsourced to a reputable third party cloud provider, you spend less time on internal, day-to-day maintenance issues involving your own IT infrastructure. Your IT team can now focus on mission-critical, revenue-driving tasks, the majority of which likely involve no additional manpower or training.
- Elevates IT’s business role. By shifting server and storage management to a third party cloud provider, in-house IT executives and managers are freed up to inform and guide the IT strategy of their organizations. This may even include overseeing the business’ transformation as a cloud provider itself (i.e., publishing in the cloud) — even though the business’ orientation may have been non-technical originally.
- Empowers with scalability. IT departments that routinely experience a surge in user load or Web site traffic no longer need to scramble in response by procuring additional hardware or license more software. Instead, the organization can easily and confidently accommodate its network load as capacity dictates. Ditto for more storage. Scale it up or scale it down.
- Deploys easily. Provisioning is simple (and considerably less costly than an on-premise solution) because an organization need not purchase hardware, software licenses and/or implementation services.
- Extends your IT team. Reputable hosting experts may offer reliable service, considerable storage and more than enough computing capacity, but importantly, they also offer certified professionals – real hosting experts – to monitor your cloud, typically 24x7x365, and handle any emergencies as an extension of your own IT team.
- Guarantees service quality and business continuity. Like AISN, the most reputable cloud providers guarantee 100% uptime and availability as well as 24x7x365 customer support. Those who use an SSAE 16 Type II-compliant data center and proper regulatory and compliance processes are likely to be most effective in assuring proper data security measures and confidentiality, especially during major disasters. Whether you lose power or your facility due to natural or man-made disasters, your files are safe and you can be back at work as long as you have an Internet connection.
- Provides 24×7 security. Public clouds, and certainly private clouds too, are increasingly being viewed as more secure than on-premise deployments. Your data is now likely more secure in the hands of a highly trained, SSAE 16 Type II-compliant cloud provider than it is in your own data center, which is challenged daily to keep pace with the newest security procedures and protocols.
- Offers better response time. Your standard server and hardware are unlikely able to compete with cloud computing’s response time.
- Enables better collaboration and mobility. Collaboration and communication are significantly enhanced via remote access to the cloud. Employees, partners, clients and vendors can access and update information whenever they need to do so and wherever they happen to be.
Choose Among AISN Cloud Hosting and Online Storage Plans
Know what you need already? Skip to ourPricingor Technical Details pages.
Choose Among AISN Cloud Hosting and Online Storage Plans
Know what you need already? Skip to our Pricing or Technical Details pages.
Confused about “The Cloud” and the cloud hosting model that’s right for you? You aren’t alone. Read more about the other cloud models that we offer:
Are you a creative shop? Check out our “Creatively Cloud” hosting model for businesses that specialize in design, multi-media and the arts.
Having trouble making the business case for migration to the cloud? Check out our SharePoint 2010 whitepaper, “To Cloud or Not to Cloud,” or our Cloud Hosting Benefits section.
Need a free quote? Contact us now!