When it Comes to the Cloud, You Absolutely Need Your IT Involved

One of the greatest advancements in Software as a Service (SaaS) offerings is in cloud computing, and for good reason. The modern business is capable of expanding their operations to epic proportions, and it’s all thanks to the cloud. Have you considered integrating a cloud solution, and if so, do you know how it will affect the management of your IT?

What the Cloud Can Do for Your Business
The cloud is enhancing the way that organizations access information and communicate with each other. How does this specifically affect your business practices? Here are just a few ways that cloud computing can improve your operations:

• Increased access to data and applications: Your organization usually needs a connection to your network in order to access information and applications. Instead of limiting your business to only accessing this information in-house, you can deploy this data by using the cloud. This is the primary benefit that businesses who desire a cloud solution typically take advantage of.
• A mobile workforce: A cloud solution takes your data and makes it readily available on a number of different devices, so long as they are approved and connected on a secure network. By using the cloud, employees can take advantage of greater mobility. This helps them be productive from home or on business trips, allowing them to get more done.

How the Cloud Changes Your IT Management
While the cloud might offer some great benefits, it also comes with added responsibilities for your IT support. These responsibilities depend on what kind of cloud solution you decide to take advantage of for your business:

• Public: The public cloud is the solution that many small businesses are turning to for cloud computing. The reason for this is simple: it makes it much easier to manage the cloud without a dedicated internal IT department. The cloud provider handles the upkeep and maintenance of the cloud solution, allowing you to take a relatively hands-off approach to your cloud. The only issue is that you don’t have optimal control of your data, meaning you may not have the ability to integrate secondary security features or change admin permissions as easily as you’d like.
• Private: The primary difference between the public and private cloud is that you’re hosting your own data on your own cloud server, which means that you have complete control over it. This also means that you have to take care of the maintenance and management required to ensure it continues to operate as intended. While this offers much more control, this means greater responsibility on your end.
• Hybrid: Many organizations are finding that the best way to go about their cloud solution is to combine the public and private cloud to create a hybrid cloud. This takes the efficiency and easy-of-use of the public cloud, and combines it with the functionality and security of the private cloud.

Regardless of the cloud solution you desire for your business, you will need dedicated personnel to implement it and train your employees on how to use it. k_Street Consulting, LLC can handle this responsibility for you. Our trained professionals can help your company get started with a dynamic cloud solution, and we can even continue to manage it following its implementation. Give us a call at (202) 640-2737 to learn more.