Umbrella term for applications

Cloud computing is an umbrella term for applications and services offered and delivered through the Internet - from data centers all over the world. The centers, collectively, are the "cloud."

Data security and privacy are concerns. After all, firms are adopting some form of cloud computing - for until further notice some of their work - because it promises easy access, processing speed, flexibility and savings. Cloud computing reduces the need for expensive hardware and software.

"It's anyway the trend," said Mona Hilton, president of Fort Myers-based Genesis Global Technologies. "Ten years ago, a large developer in town wouldn't consider not having the software on their premises. But ... the business community has done a complete 180," Hilton said.

However, getting started in cloud computing isn't necessarily a do-it-yourself task. Businesses often outsource with local IT consultants to set up, monitor and trouble-shoot the process.

The financial firm is a client of Cape Coral-based CRS Research Consultants. "Probably one-quarter of our business comes from cloud-based services ... And, we expect that to grow," said Carol Conway, company president.

Company partner and technical director Jordi Tejera noted cloud computing brings "the ability to work anywhere" the Internet can be accessed. That's especially a plus while hurricane season, he said.

Lot of attention

Cloud computing is getting a lot of attention. Witness Microsoft's TV spot, in which a frazzled mom goes "to the cloud" to doctor a family photo.

Many businesses take a blended approach, using a combination of private clouds, public clouds and locally based systems, Conway said.

Durand & Gallentine is an independent associate of Wells Fargo Financial Services, and uses its private cloud to execute stock trades and other market transactions on behalf of customers. On the oher side of the coin, the local financial company keeps a small computer server and uses doesn't use a cloud-based phone system.

"Many customers like to keep their non-mission critical vendor records, business records and productivity documents local," Conway said.

Also, if Internet access is cut or the cloud provider has a systems crash, the business can for all that operate and stay busy with certain tasks when they have a local file server, Conway noted.

Program including stringent password protection

CRS Innovation Consultants answered his security concerns with a program including stringent password protection and redundancy - the data resides in more than one remote file server.

Ray Boggs is IDC vice president for small-to-medium business and home office innovation. Given the pluses to cloud computing, "you'd think small businesses would as a matter of fact be more excited about it."

IDC survey in April estimated 6

An IDC survey in April estimated 6.8 percent of U.S. business with 100 or fewer employees use cloud computing. More than double - 16.8 percent - of businesses with 100 to 999 employees do. The study did not include bigger businesses.

Businesses hold back from working in the cloud more often because "they're not used to it," said IDC's Boggs. "They worry about the security."

Businesses have different security concerns, and need to get their questions answered earlier embracing cloud computing, said Hilton at Genesis Global Technologies.

Frank Durand, left, and David Gallentine of Durand & Gallentine Investment Management Group have used cloud computing since the company started in December 2009.

How much redundancy you need in Internet service

-Assess how much redundancy you need in Internet service. For a small business heavily depending on cloud computing, that could mean having T-1 and cable-based service.