How Small To Medium-Sized Enterprises Can Build A New Life In The Clouds

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Think Long Term

SMEs are currently investing too much in upfront costs for IT infrastructure. They often incur huge costs managing that IT, when they could be saving cash and re-investing it in their business. Cloud computing significantly reduces the need for costly infrastructure associated with traditional, on-premise software and the additional management overheads.

SMEs need technology that is scalable to their requirements — especially in these uncertain times. IT should be seen as an investment, which can deliver long-term efficiency and success, rather than a quick fix to satisfy short-term goals.


Leverage...

...the subscription model

One of the great benefits of cloud computing is that it employs a subscription model. This allows users to have much greater control over their IT budgets. They can forget about buying servers and software. When applications run in the cloud, services are ‘rolled up’ into a predictable monthly subscription, so customers only pay for what they actually use.

This makes it easier for businesses to work out exactly how much they have saved and to calculate their return on investment.


Learn from the experience of others

Cloud computing[/u] services have a strong and loyal community following. While software has previously been developed in a silo, [b]cloud services are often improved through user feedback. Companies should find out if anyone else in their business community has implemented cloud computing and look to learn from their experiences and emulate their successes.


Put applications first

Organisations need to consider which cloud applications will deliver the best ROI. Cloud computing is as much about having the power and flexibility to meet particular needs as and when they arise as it is about ongoing business success and efficiency. So businesses need to think carefully about how the technology could help... continued on page four >

 

 

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