Cloud – Based Productivity Solutions for SMBs Especially for small businesses, the cloud environment brings the most valuable benefits. The physical infrastructure deployment and maintenance, the need for specialized IT staff and the expensive software updates are just some of the aspects small businesses would not worry about if they would switch to cloud-based applications. But let’s see what kinds of productivity tools are out there in the cloud for SMBs:Cloud computing solutions should be the natural option for small businesses. In a recent survey released by Spiceworks, 62% of the SMBs interviewed reported that they are using some type of cloud application.
collaboration tools
Key Differences Between Server and Desktop Online Storage Many people are saying that 2013 will be the “break-out” year for cloud storage. A number of factors are pushing online data storage offerings – including file sharing, backup, archiving and more – beyond the consumer and small business market and into big business datacenters. Below, I’d like to highlight some of the key differences which set server and desktop/laptop online backup and storage services apart, in hopes that this might give you some insight into how the space has developed and evolved over the years. Desktop Online Backup In the past, most work
Companies That Pass On UCaaS Don’t Know What They’re Missing This post is sponsored by CIO Collaboration Network and Avaya. As the helicopter hovers above the water, a young lieutenant checks his HUD. It shows an altitude at 8 meters with wind gusting at 17 knots. His eyes flick to the right and he checks his position. Right on target. “Team Alpha, this is Bravo. Are you ready?” The diver receives an affirmative response. But then a warning sounds, followed by a computerized voice: Priority message alert – Rescue target identified as known drug smuggler. Proceed with caution. “Did you hear that, Alpha?
Stuck In The Clouds: The Issue Of Data Ownership While the immediate benefits of cloud services are typically clear to new users, individuals and businesses alike are becoming increasingly aware of a looming issue: vendor lock-in. As these users amass large amounts of data in their cloud-based accounts, from email to pictures and everything in between, they are learning that exporting that data can pose a significant challenge. Vendors often rely on the fact that once you are comfortable using their services it is difficult to leave and move that data out or to another service. For individuals, this can mean
Democratizing Business Communications Through The Collaboration Cloud This post is sponsored by CIO Collaboration Network and Avaya. In my previous post I wrote about the importance of collaboration in modern business and postulated about possible reasons behind it. Today, I am going to explore a related topic – communications. Now, effective communication is the key to effective collaboration, which we have already discussed, is the key to business success. However, modern businesses face several challenges in this critical area. “Man is by nature a social animal,” wrote Greek philosopher Aristotle more than 2,000 years ago. While it’s as true today as it was then, technology
Cloud Collaboration: The Explosion Of Human Knowledge The Power of Me We This post is sponsored by the CIO Collaboration Network and Avaya. “Are you a team player?” – If you’ve interviewed for any position in the last five years, chances are you would have heard this question. But have you ever wondered what has made teamwork more important in business over the last few years? Why is collaboration between people (Power of We) more valued over individual brilliance today (Power of Me)? I believe that the growing importance of teamwork in business can be traced back to two phenomena – one, the explosion of human knowledge
Should Cloud Computing Be Open-Source? Open source software has been on the rise during the economic downturn, because of its agility, flexibility and customization. Now, we arrived at the point when openness is being accepted for cloud computing. Open source was born in an effort to make technology more collaborative, affordable and available to everyone. I believe that soon the cloud space will embrace open-source software. OpenStack is a successful project founded by NASA and Rackspace. OpenStack is a cloud operating system that controls large pools of compute, storage, and networking resources throughout a datacenter, all managed through a dashboard
The Collaborative Cloud An organization is essentially a collection people of who work together towards a common goal, which means that collaboration is the essence of an organization. With the changing tides in business and end-user practices, it is becoming apparent that the influence of cloud computing is expanding, and that it is definitely here to stay for the foreseeable future. The cloud computing paradigm is changing business processes, revolutionizing how organizations communicate within the internal business environment, emphasizing the importance of collaboration with external stake holders, and transforming the way people work together. Thus, the need for hosted unified
