By Dominic Jones

In our experience, cloud computing services function best for organisations with 25 staff or less. Industries where the data needs are simple and the main software needed fulfils fairly mundane functions, like an Office suite, are particularly suitable.

Larger companies might choose to have a private cloud, which would add an additional layer of security and allow them to run bespoke software more easily.

However, as businesses are downsizing and cutting unnecessary logistics costs, an increasing numbers of SMEs are opting for virtual structures where most of the employees work from home. Here the cloud can serve brilliantly to bring together the systems, data and people who work in this kind of virtual environment.

For the same reasons, cloud computing is highly appropriate for companies with staff who are frequently on the road and need to communicate with colleagues and access data easily.

Another big benefit of joining the cloud revolution is the initial cost. There is much lower capital expenditure in the early stages as you don’t have to purchase a server. Furthermore, some of the more complex parts of the network are outsourced, so you don’t need to deal separately with things like backup and server administration, which also reduces costs.

Scalability is also a definite advantage of cloud computing. Although businesses have to pay a fee per user, they don’t need to buy any additional hardware when they employ more staff. So, while the obvious costs aren’t necessarily cheaper, the hidden cost associated with roll out and integration of new equipment is much lower.

Furthermore, you don’t need not to worry about upgrading the software when it becomes obsolete; updates of this kind are normally part of the provider’s service agreement. Again this removes a fixed cost as well as a roll out cost.

Another advantage for SMEs is that, as well as software, voice can be migrated to the cloud in the form of VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol). This can deliver free communications between distributed networks and much lower call charges for larger networks.

The advantage of VoIP in the cloud is that additional server space can be dynamically added on the fly. So, if you are expecting increased volumes of calls at a particular time of year you can easily add capacity to cope with that.

In a nutshell, providing it’s tailored to a company’s specific needs, cloud computing can be a big benefit for small businesses and SMEs. It can help reduce hardware costs for start up businesses and alleviate the headaches of system maintenance.

The key to cloud computing is to get the right advice before deciding in favour of, or against, migrating to the cloud. As a result, Barton Technology is offering every reader of New Media Knowledge a free of charge consultation during which Barton Technology will analyse your existing IT system and provide recommendations to help you achieve your objective. This might involve cloud computing, traditional IT activity or a mixture of the two; say VoIP as a business telephone solution with data staying on the ground.

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About the author and the company

Dominic Jones is managing director of IT support firm Barton Technology. Established in April 2000, Barton Technology is a privately owned company with a proven approach which is quality driven, thorough and extraordinarily successful. From their headquarters in South London, they specialise in providing IT Support and Business Telephone services to customers in the Construction, Not for Profit, Retail, Finance, Legal and Insurance SME sectors and who are located in London, Surrey and Kent.

Website: http://www.barttech.co.uk/index.php

e-mail: dominicj@barttech.co.uk

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