Educating you on the benefits and "how to" of integrating cloud computing with your business network.

Researchers Gartner Group and McKinsey & Company agree: cloud computing will be one of the defining trends of the next decade (we’d say “of the 21^st Century” but who knows what will be on the horizon in future decades!).   Google records 40,000+ news stories in 2010 on cloud computing.  Adoption of cloud applications, platforms and strategies is accelerating – one great example is the quintupling of Facebook users in the past two years.

SMBs face the challenge of growing – or even maintaining – revenues in struggling economic conditions and growing competitive environments while managing risk and costs.  Efficient and effective leveraging of technology – getting the greatest “bang for the buck” – is key to SMBs surviving and thriving in today’s economy.

Cash is king.  How can SMBs conserve cash and still get the tech toys they need to succeed?  Many SMBs are investigating ways to get this done – and are exploring the role cloud computing can play.  If you’re considering how best to stretch your IT dollars, consider some of what cloud computing offer SMBs:

1. Integrating new technologies without coughing up large up-front capital costs. Reducing CapEx helps SMBs grow faster while limiting their risk exposure.
2. Expanding  business more efficiently. Cloud computing helps to grow needed  infrastructure efficiently, allowing SMBs to spin up new services or ventures without taking as many resources from mission critical tasks.
3. Eliminating the need to manage servers, upgrade software and maintain your IT infrastructure.  Cloud computing frees financial and personnel resources otherwise committed to the care and feeding of IT infrastructures.
4. Enjoying greater flexibility and scalability of IT infrastructure – you can grow (and reduce) IT assets as needed without either cash outlay for new IT equipment or mothballing already-paid for IT assets.
5. On-demand technology – a kind of “pay-by-the-drink” use it when you need it approach.
6. Continuous innovation – as technology continues to evolve and upgrade, SMBs get the benefits of the “latest and greatest” without the cost of obsolescent IT assets..
7. Better collaboration. Most cloud tools are highly interactive, allowing your staff to work together on the Internet at any time.
8. Increased productivity and focus. Your staff focuses on the main production goals of your business, rather than being slowed and distracted by ineffective IT tools and resources – or by becoming “shade tree mechanics” trying to fix their IT problems.
9. Reduced risk – you don’t own it or maintain it.  If it breaks or if it becomes obsolete, it’s someone else’s problem to fix or replace.
10. Trading CapEx for OpEx – SMBs, whether cash-strapped or simply ill-equipped for the level of budgeting and strategizing necessary when owning and maintaining their own IT infrastructure, trade the ups and downs of capital expenditures for more even and steady operating expenses associated with a monthly fee-based cloud computing solution.