The Next Chapter in Outsourcing...

In many of my previous posts, I’ve addressed some of the networking angles and options for “Business Process Outsource” or “BPO” products.

I’d like to take an opportunity to begin series of posts on some of the processes behind the network which are available for you to take advantage of, namely “The Cloud”.

Let’s start by explaining exactly what “Cloud Services” are.  Here is the official definition from Wiki:

“Cloud computing is the use of computing resources (hardware and software) that are delivered as a service over a network (typically the Internet). The name comes from the use of a cloud-shaped symbol as an abstraction for the complex infrastructure it contains in system diagrams. Cloud computing entrusts remote services with a user's data, software and computation.”

As a simple example of how you may already be using “Cloud Services” in your day-to-day activities, if you use online banking services to pay bills, write checks, or simply check your account balances, you’ve entered a “Cloud” provided by your banking institution.

There are many types of “Clouds” to consider.  The first type would be a “Public Cloud”.  Public Cloud services are those that are available to the general population and are available for free.  Some of the better know “Public Cloud” applications would be Hotmail (hosted by Microsoft) and Gmail (hosted by Google).  Services which are available in the public cloud range from email, to blog hosting, to data backup, and to calendars, etc.  

The second type of “Cloud” would be the one I am going to discuss in the next few posts from “The Business Outsource Guy”, namely “Private Clouds”.  Private clouds are just what the name implies, a private version of the public cloud, designed and installed for a particular business.  Private clouds have tremendous flexibility and can offer not only revenue savings but also peace of mind for a company.  Private clouds off-load the responsibility for a business’ primary operating systems to a hosted solution provided by a 3^rd party vendor.  By outsourcing to the cloud, a company can realize operating and cost efficiencies.  It frees up valuable resources in both the IT and technical staff, which can be better utilized to help close new revenue producing sales and installs.

In my next few posts, I’ll try and focus on some of the specific programs available through the use of a “Private Cloud”.  There are many services which can be incorporated into the cloud, including email, IP phone technology, internet security, asset management, laptop security, anti-virus protection, software license compliance, disaster recovery, data back up and archiving, encryption, and many more….. Plus the “Cloud” can provide security for a business to allow secure access, both remote and mobile, to their internal platforms, easing strains on their internal IT department.

Check back for the next chapter on “Cloud” services coming soon.  If you have any particular service you would like me to address, please let me know.