Network Solutions Unlimited Blog

For the past decade, cloud computing has grown fairly rapidly, but as a new decade, and a pesky virus has people (and businesses) leaning on hosted computing solutions more now than ever, it seems like a good time to review the types of cloud options that are available, and how they provide value to businesses just like yours.

The cloud has provided businesses with remarkable capabilities and opportunities, but we wanted to take a moment to focus on one in particular: software as a service, or SaaS. Let’s go over what SaaS is, exactly, and how it can assist you in your operations.

As important as it is to keep your technology up-to-date, it can sometimes be prohibitively expensive to do so throughout your entire business. If you have found yourself in this position, one option you may consider is to resort to hosted desktop solutions. Here, we’ll go over what a hosted desktop is, and how it can serve companies well.

Thanks to the increasing capabilities of modern computing networks, businesses have been able to experience enhanced productivity. One such capability, cloud computing, has allowed businesses to reach outside of their physical location to conduct their operations. Here, we’ll review some of cloud computing’s other benefits.

Cloud computing has revolutionized the way business is done, but most businesses don’t always feel comfortable storing data and hosting critical infrastructure in the cloud. Every business has to determine what kind of computing infrastructure is right for them. Many businesses today have decided to spread their technology investments around as they attempt to find solutions for all types of operational needs.

Voice over Internet Protocol, also known as VoIP, has grown more popular with businesses in recent years, and it’s hard not to see why. The sheer amount of benefits that it provides to businesses--small organizations in particular--make your traditional telephone system look outdated and inefficient. We’ll discuss some of the greatest benefits today.

Cloud computing can be used for many things, and nowhere is this more true than in the business environment. Organizations of all shapes and sizes use the cloud to keep operations moving forward. Some have even moved their entire human resources and payroll departments into the cloud. We’ll help you decide if this is the right approach for your organization.

Efficient utility software deployment has been a priority for businesses for much of the past three decades, but today’s software developers are beginning to more frequently offer their titles as a service, giving end users the ability to utilize powerful software solutions from anywhere, for what is often a reasonable monthly payment. The dissemination of useful computing resources from the cloud, whether it’s a private cloud server, or a public cloud platform through a reputable cloud provider, can be of great benefit to your business.

A connectivity to the cloud is a great opportunity that your organization can leverage to its advantage, but only if it’s done well. No two businesses will have the same exact configuration when it comes to cloud, as the needs and responsibilities that are accomplished through that cloud solution will change. This week’s tip is dedicated to helping you discover which cloud solution is right for you.

By now you’ve heard about the cloud and all that it can do for businesses, but not all cloud providers can claim equal levels of availability and overall quality as others. Therefore, one of the most critical considerations you have to make when rolling out a cloud service regards who will be managing your company’s cloud computing platform.

Virtualization can change a lot for your business. Since you can use multiple types of solutions to expand the way your operations work, virtualization is the perfect strategy to improve your business. But what is virtualization, exactly?

Cloud computing is a major player in the way that businesses are approaching their daily operations. This might bring into question whether or not your organization is actually using the cloud in the first place, but one thing is certain--if you haven’t implemented the cloud yet, it’s difficult to not do so, especially considering how great it can be for your company.

Essentially, virtualization takes a physical component of your IT infrastructure, like a server or workstation, and stores it in a virtual environment that can be accessed via an online interface. Users that take advantage of cloud computing are familiar with this interface and use it to access their data and applications stored in the cloud. Some popular examples include software like Microsoft OneDrive and Google Drive, as well as email services like Gmail and Outlook.

Another way to understand cloud computing is to view it as keeping your data on someone else’s computer. This computer is located off-site and it is (hopefully) maintained and managed by IT professionals. More often than not, these hosted machines are powerful and can provide you with more computing resources for the money compared to purchasing the same equipment for your office.

Plus, when your cloud data is managed and maintained by professionals like a managed service provider, that’s one less thing for you to worry about so you can better focus on running your business. Alternatively, it’s entirely possible to use the virtualization process for accessing data stored on your in-house servers or workstations. While going this route will provide your company with all of the benefits and advantages of cloud computing, it also means that you’re responsible for the upkeep of your own equipment, so be sure to account for this when choosing this computing option.

When it comes to successfully implementing cloud computing for your business, the better you understand what cloud computing can do, equates to you being able to better take advantage of these benefits. What you want is a cloud service package that’s customized to meet the unique needs of your company, instead of a generic, one-size-fits-all package. To that end, Network Solutions Unlimited takes the time to understand the computing needs of your business, and then match your needs with cloud solutions that are the right fit, whether it be hosting your data in-house or having us manage your cloud data.

To get you started with cloud computing, be sure to ask yourself these questions:

• How much control do you want over your data?
• Are you equipped to take care of your own IT equipment?
• Would it be better for your budget to buy your own IT equipment, or outsource your IT needs?
• Do you have remote workers?
• Do you handle information that’s sensitive in nature and subject to fines if handled improperly?

Finally, it might be in your best interest to go with virtualization instead of cloud computing. While virtualization is what drives cloud computing, you might be able cover your needs with virtualizing your own IT network, instead of migrating your IT infrastructure to the cloud. Of course, the best way to know for sure what your computing needs are is to have a conversation with Network Solutions Unlimited. It’s easy to do, just pick up the phone and call (217) 428-6449 to schedule your IT assessment today!

Once upon a time, in a long lost era known as the 1990s, traditional phone systems ran rampant throughout the workplace environment. In-house workers were limited to using landline telephones to make outbound calls on a limited number of phone lines. Nowadays, thanks to the advent of the Internet, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is making leaps and bounds in the business environment, allowing for greater flexibility and functionality for a fraction of the cost.