FormaTech IT Services Blog

One of the biggest problems a business has with its IT infrastructure is the lack of funds a business has to commit to obtaining and maintaining the necessary computing infrastructure. Whether they’re trying to run resource-intensive application, or simply need more storage space than they can manage independently, the cloud can provide them with the means to do so.

What if you could leverage the power of tens, dozens, or hundreds of computers dedicated to completing the processes your business undertakes? What if issues could be resolved seemingly instantaneously? What if you didn’t have to manage an in-house server, and that it was maintained on your behalf--often with an uptime guarantee?

With a cloud solution, this can all be a reality.

A cloud provider can enable you to leverage their computing resources for far less capital investment than it would require you to create the same caliber of infrastructure for yourself. As a result, you are able to utilize a far more powerful solution to complete your necessary tasks. Your resource usage can even shift, depending on your needs at the moment. So, if you suddenly need more resources to complete a task, you no longer need to make alterations to your internal infrastructure. Instead, your cloud provider can simply allocate more of their resources to you (possibly increasing the rate that you will have to pay them), but ultimately allowing you to accomplish what your business needs.

Finally, you can expect most cloud providers to pass along the savings to you, as the technology they rely upon to function decreases in price. Therefore, as they are able to support more for less, they are apt to decrease their pricing in order to attract more, larger service agreements.

In essence, the cloud is made up of separate computing assets (that are meticulously cared for) that you are able to leverage for a fee. Should the server your computing infrastructure is allocated to fail, your resources are quickly migrated to another, minimizing the effect that you experience on your end.

Integrating a cloud solution into your IT strategy can have many more benefits to you and your business. To learn more about how the cloud can help your business, reach out to us at FormaTech IT Services by calling 707-258-1492.

The cloud is swiftly becoming the method by which most computing is done, especially as far as businesses are concerned. You may have been considering adding the cloud to your own IT strategy. However, in order to make your best decision, there are a few questions you need to ask

Is this option a part of the public cloud, or a private cloud solution?
Not all cloud solutions are the same, and the differences between them will influence whether or not they meet your business’ needs. A key factor is how sensitive your data is--a public cloud may not be a comforting option if you’re concerned about data security. However, your budget may limit how much of a private cloud solution you could afford to maintain.

In the end, you will have to consider which variety of cloud will suit your business the best, and make your decision from there.

What business continuity redundancies are in place?
There are some situations that, while no business owner wants to consider, will have to be addressed to ensure that the company can survive should it encounter such an issue. This is where business continuity planning needs to come into play.

As you are weighing your cloud options, you need to determine if the provider has measures put in place should they ever experience some sort of disaster. After all, you are entrusting your crucial business data to them. Do they have the measures in place to see that responsibility through?

Do they meet the industry’s compliance standards?
Based on what industry you operate in, there may be additional standards that your chosen cloud must meet, especially where security is involved. Law firms, medical practices, and others all have stringent policies that outline the requirements that the cloud provider must deliver, or risk losing lucrative business later. Make sure that your cloud provider is aware and has attended to these requirements, and eliminate those who haven’t from consideration.

What are the terms outlined in the contract?
When the time comes to sign a contract with a cloud provider, make sure that the document covers your security needs, everything outlined here, and otherwise leaves you in a better position than before. Everything needs to be in writing so that the terms are clear and indisputable, outlining the liberties each party may take.

Finally, does this cloud solution make me more vulnerable?
As we mentioned before, not all cloud solutions are the same--and in some cases, these differences can turn a cloud solution into a cloud problem.

For example, whether you’re hosting your cloud yourself or utilizing the services of a third party, your data shouldn’t be exposed to greater risks than it was before. You need to make sure that the cloud you leverage is properly configured and is protected by the most stringent security measures available.

When it comes to comparing cloud solutions, FormaTech IT Services are the experts. Give us a call at 707-258-1492 to get started.

If you suddenly were to find yourself in a data-loss situation, you would want to have some sort of backup in place to protect your critical data. However, not all backup solutions are the same, and some will do a better job than others at keeping your data safe while remaining convenient to the needs of a business. As an example, let’s compare tape backup to a cloud-based backup and data recovery solution.

Small businesses rely on technology each and every day to accomplish their business goals, which are largely influenced by the technology that is available to leverage. To continue this cycle, it helps to look ahead and anticipate what will be prioritized next in computing and IT innovation. It appears that today’s businesses are more focused on convenience.

There’s no denying the importance of data management for businesses, but companies that utilize cloud-based data storage and infrastructure access have to be extra aware. How can your business ensure that your data storage methods are working for you, and not against you? For this week’s tip, we’ll discuss some of the ways that businesses can best use their cloud-based data storage without compromising efficiency.