Navigating the Cloud: Cost-Effective Solutions for Small Business Growth

First rule of cloud computing: It’s not really a cloud

What’s in a name? Well, for “cloud computing,” the answer is confusion. Consumers might know that “the cloud” is what enables them to stream videos without downloading them. But ask them what the cloud is, and you’re likely to get some baffling answers, because the term conjures images of vapor trails, rather than hard-wired networks.

No one really knows who decided to call remote data storage “the cloud,” but we know the term dates back to at least the mid-1990s, when the Internet was young and logging on sounded like a garbage disposal swallowing a car alarm. Computer network pioneers had just recently abandoned the term ARPANET (meaning Advanced Research Projects Agency Network) in favor “the worldwide web.” Then, the team of George Favaloro, a marketing executive for Compaq, and Sean O’Sullivan, a young technologist, struck upon a scheme to move business software to the web along with file storage capabilities. Businesses seized upon the advantages cloud computing provided, and the tech took off, becoming a multi-billion-dollar enterprise. Yet, many in the industry resented the term “cloud computing,” because it was too fanciful and metaphoric, and, as one executive complained, didn’t “explain anything to people who didn’t already know what it is.”

Fast forward almost 30 years, the term “cloud” is still causing confusion. Generally, scientific names are descriptive of the function, such as telegraph (distant writing), telephone (distant sound), and television (distant sight). They conjure a clear picture of the subject.

We hope it’s no unkindness to point out that “the cloud” is not a puff of vapor into which you send your precious data. Judy Collins tells us that clouds are many things—Bows and flows of angel hair, ice cream castles in the air, feathered canyons—but they are not stable or secure. Fortunately, cloud computing is safe, which is one reason it can be a great asset for small businesses competing globally on a limited budget.

Benefits of cloud computing for your small business

If you made it through our lengthy intro, you know what cloud computing isn’t. What it is is remote, off-site storage of data. When you contract with a cloud service, you get several benefits, which include:

• Security — Storing your data off-site protects it from intrusions onto your network. If your workplace is ravaged by fire or flood, if a power surge damages equipment, or if burglars back up a U-Haul to your door and cart away all your tech equipment, your data is still safe. You even have greater protection from cyber-attacks. Finally, cloud services provide redundancy with automatic backups. This means if you suffer a catastrophic data loss, you can recover virtually all your lost data in a very short time.
• Scalability — Small businesses love to grow. But suppose you want to add staff who need network access. Without cloud storage, you’d have to add onsite servers. This could cramp your office and present additional expenses you can’t manage at the moment. So, it becomes more expensive to hire, and your growth gets stalled. With the cloud, you simply ask the provider for more storage.
• Flexibility — Cloud services do not require the type of capital investment you make when you purchase hardware. Ramp up, scaled down. Your business remains nimble and you are better able to respond to market circumstances.
• Cost savings — If you were to purchase all the servers you require for storage, you’d have huge expenses for hardware and maintenance. You might even need a larger office, which would add significantly to overhead. With a cloud provider, you’re renting space, not buying real estate. The servers belong to the company, which has the duty to maintain them.

At KMF Technologies, we provide a full range of managed computer services. We help our clients select the best cloud options for their circumstances. We’re ready to help you choose a cloud solution that tackles your immediate needs and allows you to adapt to changes in the future. Call us today.