6 Tips for Choosing Small Business Cloud Computing Services
Posted on Tue, Jun 05, 2012
One manic Monday morning, you’ve decided to take your small office to the next level by making significant expansion in order to increase the company’s revenue. That includes buying 10 extra computers, hiring additional 10 employees, and purchasing licensed software for each of them to be able to do their job. Then after a few minutes of contemplating, you realized that it is going to be a whole lot of time consuming work and bank breaking decision. But before you change your mind about this big change that you’re planning, have you considered the thought of engaging small business cloud computing companies?
According to the recent Techaisle Survey conducted in Brazil, Italy, Germany, UK, and US, only 37% of small businesses are aware of small business cloud computing services. But due its phenomenal benefits, it was predicted by the experts that it would impact the market by $14 million in 2013. Cloud computing is a great alternative for sprawling small business executives. Instead of purchasing and installing licensed software for each computer, cloud computing will only require you to load one application that will allow all your workers to log into a web based service where they can access all the tools they need.
So how do small businesses choose the best cloud computing solution?
1. Can it comply with the requirements?
It is important for every business owner to find out if a particular service can meet or even surpass their needs such as FISMA, ISO, and SAS70 type 2. The compliance requirements can be assessed with a global provider that supplies an established track record for uptime, security operations, and large customers.
2. Does it have a back up plan?
Since your business will rely on the cloud, you would want to make sure that they have a disaster recovery plan in case one of their data centers crashes. You wouldn’t want your production hours on hold just because of a system error outside of your control.
3. Is it auditable?
Cloud computing services should provide up to date, accurate, and reliable information about all the transactions whenever requested in order to monitor the activities of the business and employees. IT providers will also ensure that
4. Do they have a full time support team?
Business hours are important; every minute wasted is equivalent to dimes being thrown out the window. It is important that small business cloud computing in Los Angeles have full time and local tech support that will respond to every inquiry made by the customers, no matter how unimportant it may seem.
5. Is it cost effective?
Determine how the costs are calculated for your small business cloud service. Verify the possible services that your business might require such as processing environment or data isolation. Find out if the service will charge per CPU use, per user, or per in and out of data.
6. Will they provide and secure the information about the physical location of your data?
Physical location of data storage is essential in every big or small business. Countries have different guidelines toward what comprises personal identifiable information such as phone numbers, credit cards, addresses, and whatnot. Most businesses in the United States are required to store all the data within the country’s jurisdiction. It is pertinent that all businesses are aware to where their data are stored which is why the location of data is an issue that should never be ignored.
Businesses should not ignore the methods how their data is protected and stored. It is imperative that Los Angeles small businesses choose a cloud service that not only aligns with their mobility and budgetary needs, but also one that provides security and solid support.