Getting Your Head into the Cloud: Tips and Tricks for Early Implementation

October 31, 2012 Off By David

Grazed from Business2Community. Author: Dawn Altnam.

While some critics would have you believe otherwise, cloud computing is not a fad. It is here for the long haul. Odds are, your business is already using cloud services without realizing it. However, many businesses start using cloud services without having an adequate understanding of their data needs, budgetary resources or the ability of a specific cloud provider to meet business needs.

Let’s dive into some tips and tricks to help you get the most out of your data by using cloud-based services…

Cloud Computing Tips and Tricks for Businesses

  1. Assess Your Data Needs – The great thing about cloud service providers – whether you’re using software, storage or infrastructural resources – is that you only have to pay for what you need. For instance, if you’re a small business, odds are you’re not going to need an enterprise-level storage cap. Assess your real day-to-day data needs and seek out an adequate amount of cloud storage.
  2. Budget Carefully – Consult with your IT staff, or a cloud-computing consultant on some specific budgetary needs. Again, this goes back to not getting more than you need.
  3. Get a Handle on Your Data – Once you have a cloud storage service in place, get a handle on your data. This means knowing exactly where your data lives in the cloud. If you have multiple cloud services in place, make sure you have a system in place for knowing what data is stored in each service.
  4. Find a Cloud Hosting Provider – Find a reputable cloud-hosting provider. Cloud hosting gives you the power to host and manage your virtual machines (VMs) in the cloud. You can even run and operate your Microsoft SharePoint in the cloud. That is, you can have the benefits of SharePoint without all the backend administration costs.
  5. Public or Private Cloud – This is something you’ll need to decide early on. There is no shortage of convincing arguments on either side of this debate, and make no mistake, this will be a debate in your IT department…

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