The mysterious cloud hovers over small businesses and midsize companies, causing confusion — even fear — about the future of information technology.
But as we celebrate nearly 15 years of ‘cloud computing,’ SMBs everywhere are beginning to see the value of this strange new world. But first, they must see through the Five Myths to reach the promised value of the cloud.
Shelly Edwards of PGI will take a look at the
myths surrounding cloud technology in a five-part series, the second of which tackles the myth that the cloud is too hard to manage.
Myth 2: “It’s too hard to manage the cloud”
Small businesses and midsize companies are already pressed for time and resources, so it’s no wonder that some think twice before moving operations to the cloud. In fact, recent research found that nearly half of small business owners believe that cloud-based services are unproven, too risky and too complicated when compared to their current infrastructure. After all, if a small business switches from three on-premise software solutions to 10 cloud-based apps, where’s the simplicity in that?
Reality: The Cloud Means Simpler IT Management
With today’s innovations in cloud-based application management, the cloud doesn’t have to be unsafe or hopelessly complicated. In fact, there’s an elegant solution to address all of these issues, one that millions of people around the world use on a daily basis: the cloud-based marketplace.
The Power of One
Online application stores have revolutionized the way people find and buy a range of digital products, from music and books to games and other software. The app store model that has been such an incredible success in the consumer arena is now emerging in the business space as well. Deutsche Telekom and Bell Canada, for example, have launched marketplaces to sell cloud-based business software to their customers, many of whom already turn to them for “traditional” services like Internet, landlines and mobile service. (continued.)
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Sophisticated cloud application marketplaces offer features like single sign-on (SSO) and unified billing that dramatically simplify the management of cloud-based applications. We call this the Power of One.
For many SMBs, it’s more than just a number — it’s about partnering with a vendor they trust and doing more with less. And with more apps popping up in small businesses everywhere, managing all these technologies can be incredibly stressful and time consuming — just another management worry for overloaded SMBs.
Relieve the pressure system with the Cloud
For small businesses and midsize companies, there are never enough hours in the day. And when it comes to managing cloud infrastructure and applications, SSO and unified billing not only make cloud software easier to work with, they can also save a considerable amount of time — not to mention provide valuable peace of mind.
Take a vital business function like security, for example: Many small businesses are wary of storing sensitive financial or customer data in the cloud. However, cloud applications often save this type of data in large, state-of-the-art data centers that offer far better security than any small business could hope to match.
A cloud service marketplace can bring simplicity and usability to cloud-based business software, an area not particularly well known for ease of use. For small businesses, the benefits of this approach are clear: Application marketplaces not only make software easier to manage, but also help small businesses realize all of the benefits the cloud has to offer without consuming extra time or resources.
The majority of small businesses believe technology will determine whether their companies will thrive. As the cloud grows, innovative, easy-to-use cloud service marketplaces will become an increasingly important part of that success.
In the next issue, we will overview the third myth: “The Cloud is Too Expensive”
You can reach Shelly at [email protected] or visit pgi.ca for more information.
