#hosted computing

Most businesses think about Microsoft Office when the topic of Microsoft comes up, or at least Microsoft Windows. One of the services that has flown somewhat under the radar is Microsoft Azure, the tech giant’s cloud computing platform. What are some of the biggest selling points for Microsoft’s proprietary cloud computing solution, and what does it mean for your business? Explaining Azure (and the Cloud in General) Azure is like other cloud computing platforms in that you can host applications and data in an online environment. This has several advantages over hosting on-premises hardware, such as lower chances of downtime, less equipment maintenance, and extremely low odds of device theft. In fact, many organizations that can’t afford to hire in-house IT workers can leverage the expertise of cloud providers to take advantage of the same services as organizations that have much bigger budgets, effectively giving the little guy more competing power.

Another big benefit of using cloud solutions like Azure is that they are scalable to suit the needs of your business. Let’s say you hire ten new employees who all need to be connected to your infrastructure; this might be a daunting task, but if all of the resources are available in the cloud, it instead becomes a convenience. You don’t need to waste time running cables and hooking up workstations to your server infrastructure. All you need to do is create accounts for them.

Before implementing any sort of cloud solution, you want to first assess your options. If you’re new to this type of solution, or you want to have your options explained to you by a professional, we always suggest working with a managed IT provider, who can consult your business on the best cloud-based solutions for your organization. Of course, depending on the needs, you might find that a different type of cloud solution will better suit your organization.

Infradapt can help you determine the best path forward for cloud-based services at your organization. To learn more, reach out to us at 800.394.2301.

Cloud computing is a major part of most businesses today. In the past, businesses had to pay in-house technicians to research, design, and purchase the infrastructure needed to run an onsite server. This was expensive, especially if a business wasn’t able to get the solution they needed the first time around. Cloud computing has changed things to the point where the costs associated with implementing these solutions has decreased considerably, all while solving the problem and improving operations. We’ll help you take a look at cloud computing as a way to change up and improve the way your business functions.

Uses for the Cloud

No matter what your business needs, there is likely a cloud solution for it. Hosted VoIP and email are great communication tools. Infrastructure and Platform as a Service solutions empower organizations to leverage more flexible computing power. Software as a Service and hosted storage are available for all of your organization’s needs.

  In the end, you can get just as much done with cloud infrastructure as you can with onsite hardware.

  The cloud allows for functionality and redundancy, no matter what the industry is or the kind of workforce it contains. These services can be utilized as needed and deployed quickly.

The Drawbacks

Cloud computing isn’t perfect. Businesses can create a private cloud system that can create large costs for their bottom line while also maintaining the control, management, and accessibility… but again, a lot of thought needs to be invested into this kind of solution. Environments that are hosted outside of a service provider can be difficult to control, since your organization doesn’t have control over the hardware it’s hosted on.

  A major drawback of cloud computing can actually be the cost. Since the IT infrastructure used to run the solutions is managed by the service provider, the price is adjusted accordingly. If your business needs a certain number of cloud licenses, you could see the cost of your solution rise. Plus, if you don’t cancel accounts when employees leave, you could be paying more for services that aren’t being utilized.

  Furthermore, imagine if your organization has teams assembled that need to use three or four cloud-based applications to complete a project. Think about all of the money that’s spent just providing access to the appropriate software solutions. If it’s not properly managed, your return on investment could be put in jeopardy.

  Infradapt can help you keep track of your cloud-based resources, whether you’re just hitting the cloud environment, or you have an established presence in the cloud. To learn more about how we can help you manage cloud applications, reach out to us at 800.394.2301.

Can you think of a more revolutionary technology in today’s modern age than cloud computing? Companies are now able to implement solutions that are both flexible and scalable enough to suit the needs of both small and large organizations. To this end, the same cloud won’t work for every type of organization. Here are four questions that you’ll need to ask in order to get the best service from your specific cloud provider.