Cloud Computing 101

Related to connectivity is bandwidth, notes McCary, as well as appropriate backup measures. “The downside to cloud computing is you must have an Internet connection to access your applications.” But just as important is “a backup Internet connection, a single connection is not sufficient. If it goes down, it shuts the company down.”

It’s also important to determine if your company is a proper candidate to use cloud computing. “If you’re a sub-ten user company just rocking it old school,” McCary asserts, “there’s no reason to put those apps in the cloud.” He says free service providers like Dropbox might be a better choice for limited service and capacity needs.

“Cloud computing is not for everybody,” Zumasys’ McCary concludes. “It’s for nearly everybody, but there are always exceptions.”

Final Thoughts
As with any business function, onsite or off, vigilance is mandatory.

Walborn emphasizes this caveat: “Running your applications in the cloud does not absolve you of technical responsibilities. Just because you’re using an ASP provider and have outsourced your applications, don’t take a hands-off approach. You still have to be proactive in your technology requirements.”