Tips For Selecting a Small Business Cloud Computing Platform

Apple’s recent announcement that it’s head is in the clouds with a service that makes personal documents accessible via any Apple device is one more sign that cloud computing is no longer the “wave of the future,” nevertheless instead now entering mainstream.Cloud computing in substance gives users access to their files and applications remotely although the Internet, to put it more exactly than from being tethered to a local computer. If a cloud system is done then, it can reduce costs and alleviate headaches for small businesses that won’t need an on-site IT infrastructure.Recent high-profile outages from companies like Amazon, on the whole, highlight the necessity for small businesses to take a hard look earlier implementing the cloud. It’s a perennial issue in the innovation community: the question of where information “lives,” and the issues of efficiency, security, speed, and collaboration that arise depending on where data is stored.Here are some things to keep in mind when shopping around for the best cloud system that fits your business model.Cloud providers, like all businesses, are responsible for whatever regulations govern that data. So, don’t be afraid to require the provider to demonstrate they are in detail compliance.As well, earlier choosing a cloud service provider, you should create a checklist to ensure a provider meets your criteria on reliability, security and compliance.Small businesses owners should as well consider what might happen if something does go wrong, like an outage, and how that would effect the operations of your business. Keep in mind that data centers can fail for a variety of reasons from a tornado or earthquake to simple human error. The likelihood of one location failing is twice as risky as two.The guarantee that service won’t go down is located in the 'service level agreement' part of the contract. With many of these service agreements, the penalties for an outage is in the best case minimal. If you feel that you’re getting hoodwinked, demand something you can sink your teeth into, like a month of service for free or some type of large credit if something does go awry.Don’t assume because there is a lot of hype around this new service that everything is wonderful and perfect—be ever-prudent, just like with everything else in your business. During its potential is huge, cloud computing is in spite of everything in its infancy—don’t become the guinea pig!

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