The floodgates of interest open when one hears of “cloud computing.” We are immediately enthralled with the clouds’ apparent out of realm possibilities, and one that will provide the power of repeatable automation, scalability to real-time demand, self-service provisioning and economies of scale via virtualization. The benefits of cloud computing are numerous:

Heralded as the next big tech breakthrough, “cloud computing” has become a phrase du jour that has yet be defined in a coherent manner, and has thus become conceptually elusive for non-technical outsiders. In the midst of this misunderstanding, cloud evangelists have championed this latest Web 2.0 trend, without clarifying its huge potential for business owners, owning to a multitude of benefits of cloud computing, especially in key points like Infrastructure-as-a-Service.

Benefits of cloud computing?

Cloud computing – often referred to as utility computing – is a reversion back to centralize data in a virtual and secure way. This essentially means that registered users can access firewalled company resources through the internet, and can do so at any time and from any location. The bedrock of cloud provisioning is to increase capabilities – accessibility by remotely plugging in, storing capacity, processing power, spam filtering etc. – and go beyond the limitations and shortcomings of networked mainframe systems.

Weathering the Storm: Cloud Computing at a Glance

Cloud-service platform have greatly enhanced the prospects for businesses to equalize opportunities for expansion and level the playing field with bigger organizations. As the cloud matures as a technology, the signposts of progress, reliability and stability become even more clear-cut. Here’s why a small-to-medium sized business should at least look to adopt, even if it’s on a partial level, this new mode of management:

Tested, Tried and True

• Despite being broadcast as a novel or radically “new thing,” many people have already integrated aspects of cloud services into their daily lives. Cloud-based document collaboration software like Microsoft SharePoint and Google Docs are mainstays of business life. Cloud computing is not a foreign model that has not undergone an extensive test environment. It’s already being trusted to handle critical information inputs from end-users, and membership has skyrocketed, not subsided, in this developing technology.

Business Continuity and Fluidity

• A changeover to the cloud is quick and seamless, and can be readily integrated into your current IT infrastructure. The transitory phase to cloud governance is a quick one, and will not disrupt workflow because the IT architecture is already setup for you, and can be migrated over.

Cost-Efficient

• Cloud computing – like all virtualized and service-oriented architecture – immediately reduces burdensome hardware costs that depreciate, both in its resell value and as a technology product, in a rapidly changing bazaar of innovation. Cloud provisioning offers Hardware as a Service (HaaS) that offers buyers in a managed service marketplace the opportunity to purchase virtual products that supplement their current cloud architecture i.e. faster RAM.  The solvency of your business assets, and the burden to dispose devalued hardware in a buyer-friendly marketplace is rectified within the framework of the cloud system.
• From pay as you go options to a la carte approach, cloud providers offer a diverse array of package offerings that will cater to an assortment of businesses goals. Another benefit is that you are contributing to green technology – and reducing your carbon footprint in a proactive manner – by opting for a virtualized environment over a hardware-heavy status quo.
• Adopting a cloud-based platform also lowers cost of market entry and subsistence costs. The natural gap to “catch up to competitors” is lessened because the engine and platform to build on – the applications – have already been deployed and setup before switching over to the clouds.

Adaptability to Market Conditions

• A cloud strategy utilizes empowering technologies to dynamically scale business demand, and can absorb market fluctuations. Converting to the cloud at any juncture in the market cycle – whether it’s a trough, rebound or peak time – is therefore, not a source of concern.

Risk Mitigation and Security Controls

• Before embarking on any partnership, a standard of care and due diligence must be taken by your organization. This means that the leading cloud-based service providers – such as Microsoft’s Azure, CloudNine, VMare’s vCloud, Amazon’s CloudFront – all have different terms, service offerings and stipulations that need to be distinguished through a risk assessment framework. To mitigate the risks, break-down the differentiated services, and do a comparative analysis that aims to yield a result that falls in line with your interests.                                                                                                                   .
• In order to optimize security controls and reliability, cloud provisioning firms employ complex encryption regimes, auditing procedures, disaster recovery mechanisms and strict regulatory policies. All of this is meant to dissuade data corruption and uphold the integrity of the deposited information assets. The leaders of innovation in the modern era– Google, Microsoft, Amazon – are spearheading this campaign to safeguard the sensitive data of businesses that opt for the cloud.

Final Thoughts on Cloud Computing and Toronto Approach

Businesses should not be apprehensive about jumping ships to cloud computing. By taking a virtualized route, businesses will enjoy a multitude of benefits that will facilitate growth through cost-saving measures in a troubled economic times; elasticity by virtue of self-servicing; organizing massive information into manageable forms; ironclad security regimes that will not compromise sensitive data to outsiders; and enable cloud computing to be a hallmark of innovation and progress in the company culture.

Toronto is considered the cloud computing capital of Canada, and it needs to continue to lead that drive if it further wants to distinguish itself and be catapulted to the forefront in a global forum. As a ‘city of the future,’ Toronto businesses cannot stagnate behind and take their foot off the pedal towards cloud computing. We make cloud computing for small business easy.

While their are risks involved, in a competitive marketplace, Toronto companies can take a firm foothold by continuing to subscribing en masse to cloud provisioning and service-oriented software that aim to yield a high ROI.

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Summary

Cloud computing has realigned the fault-lines for small to medium sized businesses by extending their capabilities to do more for less. Regardless of where you are headquartered, cloud provisioning empowers businesses to go beyond their geographical scope and leap-frog competitors who are still resorting to and dependent on obsolete and inferior technologies. The benefits of cloud computing are numerous as the cloud will procure scalable, service-oriented applications with lower investment costs for business who do not want to get boggled-down in inflexible financial commitments with no room to roll-back on operational intensity.

Fidelity IT Solutions will farm out a computing infrastructure in an optimal and reliable manner for Toronto businesses. By standardizing cloud and virtualization policy in your IT environment, we will provide a self-servicing platform that relies less on IT professionals and more on internal discretion and perspective.