This is the third installment of “8 Ways to Use Cloud Computing in Your Business”, which can be downloaded for FREE from our eBook library.

If your business is on the web, you know that your company’s website can be a great source of traffic and referrals. Of course, it has to be working properly for it to drive customers to you.

As more and more businesses expand their online offerings to include rich media and e-commerce, cloud website hosting becomes more complicated and more important. It’s financially risky to have a website with pages that load too slowly or don’t load at all.

• What if there is an unexpected increase in visitors to your website?
• Will it be able to handle the additional traffic?
• Exactly how much of an increase can it accommodate before breaking down?

Whether your business is large or small, you also face the challenge of future growth. As you continue reaching new customers, you could be managing multiple sites and enjoying increased traffic from expanding your business into new territories. Having a solution that can grow as your business grows is a good way to plan for the future.

How is cloud website hosting different from old-fashioned single server hosting?

In the cloud, your website is not limited to a single server and can instantly access multiple servers. This means there is no longer a limit on the amount of power you can connect to. “Scaling up” happens automatically as it’s needed.

Cost is also an important consideration in cloud website hosting. It’s much more cost-effective to use the cloud. Pricing schemes are developed for web hosting on the basis of the processing power you’ve used. If you use a little, you pay only a little. If you need to use a lot, then you pay more just when you need it.

Here in southwest Florida, we think it’s a smart solution for business with heavy traffic in season and quiet summers.

Without a cloud website hosting plan, you would need to play it safe and purchase extra servers to avoid a website crash in peak hours.

If you would like to learn more about cloud computing for businesses and don’t want to wait for the next blog post, simply click the eBook on the right and download it for FREE from www.entechcomputers.com.

If you would like additional information, please feel free to contact us online or call us at (800) 573-0234. We are the cloud computing experts!

-Martin

This is the first installment of “8 Ways to Use Cloud Computing in Your Business”, which can be downloaded for FREE from our eBook library.

You may have already heard of the term “cloud computing”, but even if you have no idea what it’s all about, don’t worry. We’ll explain the in’s and out’s before showing you how you can leverage the power of the cloud for your own company.

If you already know what the term cloud computing means, then you can skip right over this section and start digging in to the many tools available for cloud computing for businesses!

In the past, if you wanted your computer to perform a certain task, like accounting, then you would buy a software program. You’d probably get it in a box, with a CD (or more) and various instructions inside. You’d pop the CD in your computer, install the program and then run it – from your own machine.

In cloud computing, if you wanted to perform a task like accounting, you wouldn’t be installing anything on your computer. You would use a web browser to access an accounting program. It would still seem like you had software on your computer – because you could do all the same things and essentially use it in the same way. But the real “engine” that makes the software work would be up in the cloud, not on your hard drive.

In the past (with the boxes of software), as a business owner, you would have to guess how many licenses to purchase for yourself and your employees. Would everyone need one? Could it be shared? Would sharing impact productivity? In some cases, the answer would be obvious, but if you were just starting a new project or service, estimating could be difficult. With cloud computing, you no longer have to worry about individual software licenses. Typically you pay a monthly fee for service based on how much you actually use. With most cloud services, you pay just for what you need: no more, no less.

If you would like to learn more about cloud computing for businesses and don’t want to wait for the next blog post, simply click the eBook on the right and download it for FREE from www.entechcomputers.com. If you would like additional information, please feel free to contact us online or call us at (800) 573-0234. We are the cloud computing experts!

-Martin

Photo: The Entech Family at our annual dinner looking forward to 2012.

We hope you had a great 2011, excellent Holidays, and are enjoying 2012 so far!

We’re really excited about 2012, and the biggest buzz in our industry has been, and continues to be, the exponential growth of Cloud Computing.

If you’ve been following our blog, you noticed we wrapped up a series on “7 Ways Cloud Computing Will Change Your Business” (also available as a free eBook) in October.

Over the last few months, we’ve been asked how businesses are actually switching to, and using Cloud Computing.  We’re extremely excited to say we’ve compiled 8 great examples for our new free eBook that will be debuting shortly, entitled:

“8 Ways to Use Cloud Computing in Your Business”

We’ll be reviewing how Cloud Computing helps businesses continue to grow and flourish through having centralized business document storage, secure online accounting & billing (allowing business owners the ability to more closely monitor cash flow!), and even enhance the relationships you have with your clients through online customer relationship management!

Be sure to get your free copy of our “7 Ways Cloud Computing Will Change Your Business” eBook and you’ll automatically be notified of when our new eBook debuts!

As always, if you have any technology questions, or need help with your computer systems, or network, please give us a call at (800) 573-0234, or contact us online.  We’re here for you!

Thank you, and Happy New Year!

-Martin

…that appeared in Southwest Florida’s “December 2011 – Gulfshore Business” publication.

Congratulations, Jake!

In the article, Jake talks about the most common questions he receives lately regarding cloud computing, and they are:

“What’s the cloud?  What’s cloud computing?”

In a nutshell, the latest buzz of “cloud computing” simply means doing & storing your work on the Internet (which is commonly referred to as the ‘cloud’) as opposed to your computer, or company file server.

One of the perks of cloud computing is not having to maintain your own file servers.  Another is “mobility”, since your work is stored securely online – you can generally work from anywhere you have an Internet connection and a mobile device (think Smartphone, such as the iPhone or Android, or Tablet, such as the iPad) or computer.

Generally, companies pay a monthly recurring fee to continually have access to their programs securely available in the cloud.

Jake mentioned that “in Southwest Florida, cloud computing is catching on, however, many are nervous about the switchover because they feel think they will lose control, however, that’s not necessarily the case”.

Be sure to get our free “7 Ways Cloud Computing Will Change Your Business” eBook that will help you understand what cloud computing is, and how it can help you!

Also, you can read the Gulfshore Business article online, too!

Enjoy,

Martin

Like every business owner, you are continuously searching for ways to shave off a few pennies here and there on your business expenses.

For example: You’ve learned that by using certain credit cards you can get cash back or rack up frequent flyer miles that will save you money on future trips. You’ve also learned that by marketing & interacting with your customers on social media accounts such as Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter, you can make a tremendous impact on your profit margins. In the past, you’d have to place an ad in the yellow pages or in a newspaper (which isn’t cheap) and pray that someone would find your ad. But now with free online advertising, through social networking, you’re saving a considerable amount of advertising dollars and potentially reaching a much larger audience online.

Want to learn to save even more money on your business expenses? Then you must know about cloud computing!

Over the past few months I’ve given you 7 Ways Cloud Computing Will Change Your Business. In fact, we wrote an eBook with the same title and if you want it, it’s yours for FREE. Simply click the eBook cover above. To recap the benefits of cloud computing, here are a few tips that you can use to increase your bottom line:

1. What is Cloud Computing?
2. Cloud Computing Security
3. Cloud Business: Your Office Can Operate from Anywhere in the World
4. Cloud Computing IS Disaster Management
5. How Your Business Can Save Money With Cloud Computing
6. Cloud Services for Small Businesses
7. The Risks & Benefits of Cloud Computing

So if you can improve your profit margins by NOT having to buy expensive servers for your business and by using cloud computing software such as hosted Microsoft SharePoint, wouldn’t it make sense to make the switch? For more business technology solutions to make your company run more smoothly, please call us at (800) 573-0234.

-Martin

This is the 7th of 7 Ways Cloud Computing Will Change Your Business which is available for FREE from our library of eBooks.

If you are a business owner, you are all too familiar with the process of weighing out the risks and benefits of any new venture or decision. Obviously, the decision to move your computing to the cloud is no exception. Here are a few things to consider when exploring the risks and benefits of cloud computing.

To be expected with any type of newer technology, there are still some unanswered questions and inherent challenges. This is true with adopting cloud computing for the “edge” computing of minor applications and non-critical business systems. These include:

• Security of enterprise data that is stored in the cloud
• Risk of lock-in to cloud platform vendors
• Loss of control over cloud resources run and managed by someone else
• Reliability

On the other hand, the amazing benefits of cloud computing can save a great deal of money, time, and stress for your businesses. These include:

• Security that is not dependent on your hardware (all is not lost if your laptop gets run over or your desktop computer catches on fire)
• Mobility of your workforce(anyone can work from anywhere at anytime)
• No purchasing software licenses
• Operate IT systems much more affordably than previously possible
• No need for an on-site server
• Easier to change management of infrastructure including maintenance and upgrades

Cloud computing also offers an on-ramp to new computing advances such as non- relational databases, new languages, and frameworks designed to take advantage of new innovations.

As mentioned previously in one of my other blog posts, you’ll need internet access to take advantage of cloud computing services. If you would like your entire office to be mobilized, we can help with a wireless internet installation. This way, you and your employees can take your laptop computers from your desk to the conference room and every where else in your building. Contact us to learn more or call (800) 573-0234.

-Martin

This is the 6th of 7 Ways Cloud Computing Will Change Your Business which is available for FREE from our library of eBooks.

For small businesses, cloud computing hits a particular sweet spot. Cloud services allow small businesses to reap the benefits of not having to deploy physical infrastructure like file and e-mail servers, storage systems or software. Plus, the “anywhere, anytime” availability of these solutions, means working with part-time or remote employees is hassle-free. Small businesses are able to easily collaborate with business partners and employees by simply using a browser.

In fact, it’s probably safe to say that the technology needs of today’s small businesses can be almost completely be fulfilled with cloud services. This technology can actually offer a net gain in data security and system reliability. This is especially true when dealing with small businesses that have aging computers and data that is stored on hard drives that are rarely (if ever) backed up.

Another huge benefit of cloud services to small business owners is the “pay for what you use” philosophy. Basically, you only pay for the space you need. If you only need 5 gigs, you’ll only pay for 5 gigs of space.

So, unlike traditional hosting or outsourcing, where you may be paying for storage that you only use a small portion of, you only pay for what you use in cloud computing. If you need to add more capacity to handle peak load, you can add it within minutes – and treat it as an operating expense rather than a capital investment.

Did you know that we can provide your business with a comprehensive
enControl® managed IT services package that is tailor fit to your budget? Or if you prefer, you may choose any one of our business technology solutions, a la carte’. Contact us online for more information.

-Martin

This is the 5th of 7 Ways Cloud Computing Will Change Your Business which is available for FREE from our library of eBooks.

O.k., let’s say you’re an executive at a large corporation. You are responsible for making sure that all of your employees have the right hardware and software that they need to do their jobs. You also have to ensure that everyone has their own computer at the office.

However, buying software and hardware for everyone isn’t enough…you also have to purchase software licenses to give employees the required tools to do their job. Anytime there is a new hire, you may have to buy more software or make sure that your current software license allows for another user.

With cloud computing, this stress and cost becomes a thing of the past. Instead of installing a suite of software for each computer, you would only have to load one application. That application would allow workers to log into a Web-based service which hosts all the programs that the user would need for his or her job. Remote servers hosted by another company would run everything from word processing to complex data analysis programs.

So, in short, cloud computing eliminates the need to purchase:

• Hardware(employees can work from their personal laptop or home computer)
• Software
• Software Licenses

This new technology saves you money, time, and eliminates stress. Just imagine…no more calls to the 1-800 numbers on your computer software! Wow…are we in heaven? Well, not exactly, but we are in the cloud!

If you ever need support with your cloud computing software, we can help. In fact we have a dedicated website to assist you with ANY of your computer problems. Simply go to YourComputerHelpDesk.com & tell us your problem.

-Martin

This is the 4th of 7 Ways Cloud Computing Will Change Your Business which is available for FREE from our library of eBooks.

Now, obviously, if there is a category 5 hurricane approaching, a hefty winter storm making its way to your town, or an out of control wild fire near your vicinity, you certainly need to have some business disaster planning in place! However, with cloud computing, this disaster management and planning is not something you have to worry about when it comes to your computer.

If you are a business owner, you most likely have a:

Business Continuity Plan – The protocol and action plan for when anticipated things go wrong (such as components or servers failing, power outages, human error, etc.)

Disaster Management or Recovery Plan – This is a plan for the unexpected (such as natural disasters, fires, planes falling out of the sky, etc.)

Most experts agree that when it comes to information technology and especially disaster management, cloud computing is the way to go. In fact, it basically serves AS your disaster management plan!

When all of your valuable information is stored outside of your computer, then you no longer have to be concerned with the destruction of your files and valuable information, in the unfortunate instance that your computer network is destroyed.

Disaster recovery traditionally involves the backup of all a company’s data on backup servers, which can be easily accessed. These backup servers can be on site or contracted out, but the ownership of the hardware or subcontracting of these services can be quite expensive and form a substantial part of an IT budget for an organization.

A cloud disaster recovery service brings peace of mind to businesses that can’t necessarily afford the hardware and capital costs involved with in-house disaster recovery provision. It completely eliminates the need for expensive hardware, as data stored in the cloud is on the servers of service providers. Then those service providers, in turn, have their own system of remote backup servers at different locations which constantly back up any customer data that they receive. This way, you are able to access it at any time.

If your data is saved in the cloud, it will have a number of backups which can assist in data recovery for any material stored in it. This creates a type of organizational back-up that any individual business may find very expensive to duplicate.

Want more information about our business disaster planning and recovery services? Contact us today!

-Martin