Cloud Computing Basics for Small Business
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This document discusses cloud computing basics for small businesses. It defines cloud computing as obtaining IT assets as services through a monthly fee rather than upfront costs, including software, platforms, and hardware. The benefits outlined are reduced costs, scalability, automatic updates, built-in disaster recovery, and the ability to work from anywhere. It provides examples of cloud services offered by GWI and discusses considerations for network readiness and partner selection before adopting cloud computing.
Cloud Computing Basics for Small Business
- 1. Cloud Computing Basics for Small Business November 1, 2012
- 2. About Us • GWI – www.gwi.net – blog.gwi.net – Facebook.com/GWIInc – Twitter @gwimaine – YouTube.com/gwimaine • Trevor Jones, Director of Marketing and Product Development – Twitter: @trevorjones71 – LinkedIn.com/in/trevordjones • Brad Dormanen, Director of IT – Twitter: @braddormanen – linkedin.com/pub/brad-dormanen/28/751/5
- 3. Poll – Have You Used: • HubSpot? • Salesforce.com? • Hootsuite? • TweetDeck? • Google Apps? (Gmail, Drive, Docs, Calendar) • Control Panel Web Hosting? • Google Analytics? • Mozy or Carbonite? • DropBox?
- 4. Congratulations! You’re using cloud computing!
- 5. What is Cloud Computing? • IT assets obtained as services – Monthly maintenance fee – Minimal up-front costs • Software (SaaS) • Platform (PaaS) – Control Panel Web Hosting – Force.com, Google API • Hardware (IaaS) – Server virtualization, storage, etc.
- 6. Cloud Computing Benefits Financial • Reduced Capital Costs – No servers to buy – No software licenses to buy – No unexpected investment needed due to equipment failure, obsolescence or disaster • Reduced Overhead – Less need for specialized IT staff or consultants – Lower power consumption – Reduces the need for expensive private networks or hard to maintain VPN’s • Scalability – Pay as you go per megabit or per seat
- 7. Cloud Computing Benefits Operational • Work from anywhere – Username + Password access without VPN’s • Best in class services for small business budgets • Automatic updates – Lower Maintenance – Fewer risks from malware and intrusion • Built in Disaster Recovery – No manual backup processes Do what you do best, where you – Geo-diverse replication of want to do it – let us deal with IT. data
- 8. A Few Examples of GWI Cloud Computing Services • Hosted PBX • Hosted Storage • Hosted Backup & Recovery • Hosted Exchange • HAVEN - Server Virtualization • Data Center Services
- 9. Where the Cloud Lives http://youtu.be/pp-cTdt3iEw
- 10. Data Center • Off-site home for your servers – Build your own Cloud – Specialized applications – Sensitive data • Benefits – High availability • Diverse internet connectivity • Backup power systems – Secure and safe • Keycard access • Video surveillance • Gaseous fire suppression • Redundant cooling – Nearby • Low latency • Easy access – On the GWI Core • Nationwide private network connectivity.
- 11. Before You Jump In: Network Readiness • Set up monitoring – Is your connection fast enough? – Are their performance issues with your network? • Have wiring inspected • Check wireless network configuration – Performance – Security • Update out of date equipment • Upgrade your connectivity – Consider a private connection – Consider backup Internet • Install battery backups on network devices
- 12. Before you jump in: Partner Selection • Control & Privacy – Understanding where copies are stored – Careful review of privacy policies • Data Security – Ensure stored data is encrypted – Mistrust any partner who can decrypt your data for you – Data should be transmitted via a private network, SSH, or other encrypted tunnel • Service Level Management – Mean time to recover/restore – Maintenance schedule • Location matters for performance • Consider carriers – Connectivity can be managed for performance and security – Savings through bundling with telecom services – One-call, one-bill convenience – Many have local support staff
- 13. Questions? Ask away! THANK YOU!