office 4 issues with onsite IT systems
"We've always done it this way."
This innocent-sounding phrase is often heard in opposition to change. As technology is rapidly evolving, there are still many businesses that cling to the old ways, the comfortable. Paper forms instead of digital documents, phone calls and email instead of instant messages and video conferences.
The same can be said for a resistance to moving to the cloud. With up-to-date applications, instant access to your data and local 24-hour support from anywhere, on any device, cloud technology is the definition of the modern office, tailored to your needs.
Moving to the cloud is more than just a system upgrade. Businesses are strategically using cloud technology to transform the way they work. If you are still keeping your data and applications in-house, here are 4 issues to keep in mind when hosting your own IT system.
1. Working in the past
You're tied to your desk with a desktop computer and corded phone. There is no data and file sharing between your laptop, tablet and mobile, making remote work and collaboration a hassle, if not impossible.
Even running applications offsite is a constant struggle thanks to weak connections to your office servers. Wouldn't it be ideal if you could begin a document or an email on your laptop, and then pick up right where you left off on your mobile? Reliance on local apps and applications running from onsite servers make this difficult, but it's very achievable with cloud technology.
2. Security
It is not an uncommon to hear of businesses losing valuable data due to unexpected disasters. Buildings can burn down, or flooded, or broken in to, no matter how safe and secure you believe your onsite servers to be.
When data is stored exclusively onsite, you are putting your business and customer data at the risk of security breach, viruses, disasters and hardware failure. The resulting impact may be sensitive information that cannot be recovered, even with the most recent backup stored onsite. In other words, downtime will cost your business.
Data is your most valuable financial and strategic asset. So for your peace of mind, cloud technology ensures sensitive information is stored and protected in secure data centres. With quick data recovery and restoration, you can get back to focusing on your business and customers.
3. Mounting Expenses
Technology is moving quicker than ever: more efficient processors, power and cooling, faster memory and storage - all of which means new possibilities and business opportunities. But when you run your own IT system, keeping up with the latest technology is expensive. You are burdened with upfront purchases of new equipment and software license renewals that will only become obsolete or out-of-date too soon.
Not only is system management costly, it increases the workload for your IT staff, and diverts them from value-adding activities such as business growth and development.
4. Roadblock to Growing Your Business
Managing your IT system is time-consuming, and frequent upgrades can keep you from what's truly important - business growth. Your in-house equipment - hardware you've bought outright - are not agile or scalable. This means you're stuck with equipment that no longer fits your office needs.
Do you really want your IT team juggling siloed systems for desktop, software, storage, phones and conferencing - a feat that consumes valuable time and money? Wouldn't work be easier if they were consolidated into a single solution taken care of by one provider?