Cloud technology is not the future, it is the present.

This, a once intimidating and confusing technology, is now the norm and is something we use every day, often without realising it. This all begs the question; how can I find a way to make cloud computing help my business?
Cloud computing is the storing of files (of any sort) on the internet, rather than saving them locally on your hard drive. The benefits of this are numerous and can be utilised to make real improvements in how your business operates.

Cloud technology can make your business:

More secure – By storing files in the cloud, you will be making an important step in protecting the most valuable aspects of your business from the physical failure of your personal machines. For example, if you were to suffer an office fire or flood that destroyed your computer system, all of your data would be safe and retrievable from another device because it is not stored physically in your office but in a cloud system that stores a backup off-site.

More collaborative – Public cloud services allow multiple people to collaborate on the same document simultaneously, meaning that the days of emailing documents and presentations around the office for improvements and changes are gone, speeding up the process of collaboration and ensuring everyone always has the most up-to-date version of the document. This will make your business more time effective, less prone to human error, and will improve how well your team members are able to collaborate with one another.

More flexible and scaleable – Adding extra team members, sites, and storage options to cloud solutions is a painless and instant process, meaning that you can keep up with your thriving business and scale your IT network to suit in a quick, and cost-effective manner.

Does this sound like something your business could benefit from? DNA IT Solutions is a market leader in the provision of, and transition to, cloud solutions for businesses of any size. Contact us today and we will create a bespoke package that suits your business needs.

The many benefits of cloud computing have been discussed in depth and are rarely disputed.

With a lower cost, more flexibility, productivity and layers of security it is the obvious choice for most businesses.  However, there are several types of cloud services and knowing what is available can help you make better decisions on what you need.

The cloud computing stack

The national institute of standards and technology defines cloud computing as a model which enables useful, on-demand network access to a shared configurable resources (networks, storage, servers, services, and applications) which can be quickly implemented and released with minimum effort.  Here we look at the main elements of the cloud computing, often called ‘stack’ as they often build on top of each other to form solutions.

Software as a service (SaaS)

This is the term for software applications that are hosted in the cloud and make available to users over the internet. Usually they are on demand and come with a subscription cost.  Microsoft Office 365 is a perfect example but there are many others.  Cloud providers host and manage the software application which means that they look after upgrades and security issues.

When it comes to cloud we also need to evaluate the different options available be it public, private or hybrid.   Not all options are the same and making the correct decision for a business without advice can be difficult.

Platform as a service (PaaS)

This is a suite of services that are offered to make coding, developing, testing and deploying of applications easier in the cloud.  It is designed to make this process easier and quicker to create without having the concerns around managing infrastructures such as storage, databases or servers.

Infrastructure as a service (IaaS)

This is the one we may be more familiar with and the main foundations of the cloud.  It is the software and hardware used to create the cloud offering that an organisation will rent.  It will be the servers, storage, operating systems, virtual machines that the cloud provider puts in place so you can avail of cloud on a pay as you go basis.

Public cloud

Public cloud would be the most common option as it has all the benefits and is easily accessible by any business.  Microsoft Azure is an example of a public cloud.  They own and manage the computing resource and offer storage over the internet on a pay as you go basis.

Private cloud

Sometimes an organisation will require dedicated storage space, particularly when it comes to enterprise organisations.  IBM Bluemix offer such a service and will assign a particular area of the network exclusively for their use.

Hybrid cloud

Hybrid Cloud is a mix of cloud and onsite infrastructure.  For a variety of reasons this solution can be the best option when it comes to greater flexibility and deployment within the business.

Whatever options you decide are right for you ensure you are well informed.  A conversation with a cloud expert can reap rewards for the future and the team at DNA IT Solutions are available to take a look at your business and advise you accordingly.

Cloud computing has many benefits for business today.

The flexibility it brings means that services can be scaled to fit individual organisation needs.  Applications can be customised and the many cloud services available can be accessed from anywhere in the world once there is access to the internet.

Here are some of the main benefits of cloud computing

1. Speed

Cloud computing services are designed in a way to be accessed on demand meaning that users can get applications to the market quickly.  There are no concerns about infrastructure installations and the associated wait time that would come with that.  With the huge resources available and by using the right provider, cloud services can be increased in a short period of time, sometimes even minutes.  This flexibility and ease of access can increase opportunities for many organisations.

2. Cost

As cloud computing is a shared resource that already exists, it is waiting for organisations to access it.  The alternative is investing in expensive hardware such as internal servers and the associated facilities that go with them.  The cloud is there waiting to be accessed and at a much lower cost and with greater flexibility to meet budgets at a monthly cost without depreciation or the worry of unexpected maintenance costs.

3. Scale

Having the ability to scale up or down as the market dictates is a great advantage.   You pay for what you use, when you use it rather than having too much capacity at certain times.  It is so scalable that extra resources can be switched on quickly to complete projects and then reduced when not needed.  This controls costs of cloud storage or power over the financial year.

4. Security

With more organisations than ever entrusting their data to the cloud network it is vital that data remains secure at all times.   Cloud makes perfect sense when it comes to disaster recovery planning.  Holding backups off site will make business continuity possible in the event of something happening.  Having security options that are designed to be used in conjunction with the cloud will also heighten protection for organisations.

 

5. Performance

With advances in cloud storage in recent years the global network of data centres are known to be fast and secure.   As these centres are maintained at the highest levels with assurances that hardware is the latest version and all necessary software will be upgraded regularly.   Compared to on site servers where IT teams must individually look at each element maintaining it with budget constraints.  Resulting in less IT issues and a better performance

These are only some of the more obvious benefits of cloud computing.  There are many options to suit different size companies and sectors.  To find out how cloud computing may fit into your business plans contact one of the team at DNA IT Solutions.  We can explain how you can successfully transition to the cloud in a cost effective and future proofing way.

Cloud computing enables organisations of any size and in any sector to run modern IT solutions with the minimum of fuss and no expert knowledge required in-house.

What is cloud computing?

In reality, ‘in the cloud’ simply means via the internet. All the valuable IT resources you may need to operate your business are provided to you, often on a self-service basis as needs arise. There isn’t the need for that expensive kit physically on-site taking up precious space in your office. Instead, they are located securely in remote locations, overseen by expert IT professionals such as those at DNA IT Solutions, who provide all the support and know how you would expect from your own internal IT department.

As an analogy, you will have seen many of the safe and secure self-storage warehouses where you can store belongings when you don’t have space at home. You still have 24 hour access to them, they are still yours but they are stored and protected probably even more securely than in your own home. Cloud computing provides the same and more for your IT needs.

The flexibility of cloud storage

Cloud computing however, is not just about hardware such as servers and back-up drives. The Cloud now also applies to software, data protection, disaster recovery, and even telephony. Everything a modern business needs to succeed and stay ahead of competitors can be supported via cloud computing, with cloud solutions also often working more seamlessly together than an ad-hoc traditional IT solution that has been built over the years. Choosing cloud computing makes your IT systems more dynamic, more cutting edge and more reactive to change where required. For example, if you suddenly need additional Terabytes of storage to perhaps cover a new short-term project, a cloud storage solution provides instantaneous additional space with the minimum amount of hassle, and once no longer needed can be switched off again. There’s no need to buy an additional drive, fit it and configure it to your existing system. Cloud storage is instant and flexible.

Security and access

By using a trusted and proven cloud provider like DNA IT Solutions, you also get the peace of mind that your IT infrastructure is always on, automatically upgrading to combat the latest threats and running safely and smoothly every day so you can concentrate on running the other elements of your business.