The Biggest Mistakes Companies Make when Migrating to the Cloud

While cloud computing is highly efficient in itself, businesses fail to use half of this potential. This happens because businesses men are not ideally technicians who can decode the functioning of this seemingly simple technology. It is a specialized field best left in the hands of experts.

Like most businessmen, are you all set to move your enterprise to the cloud? Well, this may be a great decision in several ways. This virtual world has a lot in store for businesses, including optimal safety of your data and information, greater scalability, increased productivity, and cost savings!

However, moving ahead without proper directions or in haste won’t benefit your business much. You should either take cloud computing services from a reputed professional or keep certain things in mind before getting on to the cloud.

Make sure you don’t make the following mistakes when migrating:

1. Inadequate Research and Planning

Taking your business onto the cloud is going to be a big leap ahead. You are, after all, going to get a chance to cut expenses on hardware equipment, storage and its maintenance. To make it happen smoothly, however, it is important that you’ve done sufficient research and made a foolproof strategy beforehand!

Most companies don’t plan well when they have time and face lots of problems later on. For example, what will you do to survive if the cloud provider fails? Do you have a backup plan to retrieve your business data and information? It is always a better choice to be prepared instead of assuming that all cloud providers have policies in place in the event of a disaster!

Tip: since data security is the biggest concern at the time of your migration to the cloud, consider asking your provider whether they can ensure the safety of your infrastructure or not.

2. Choice of the Inappropriate Cloud Model/Package

How do you know you are not paying more than necessary for cloud computing services? Most companies don’t have a fair idea of how the cloud works and end up using an inappropriate cloud model. The worse, they still expect to get as good results as those who have spent lots of time to choose the right cloud providers are getting!

Remember, your choice of a cloud provider will always depend upon your unique business requirements, the level of flexibility you need, what kind of problems you are facing, and, of course, your budget.

Tip: Keep both short and long-term benefits of professional cloud services and you’ll automatically find the right provider.

3. No or Insufficient Compliance with Privacy Laws

Every company is subject to law and regulations that are associated with the privacy or safety of its clients, regardless of which industry it belongs to. That implies there must be certain limitations regarding what kind of cloud model you can use, what type of data you can store on it, and who can access this information and who not. Ignorance towards or inability to abide by such laws and privacy terms often causes companies huge losses, especially in terms of breeched contracts and fines.

Tip: Learn what kind of data you are going to store in the cloud and how much of it. Spend some time about laws and terms that may apply.

4. Inefficient Use of Bandwidth 

Frequency and speed are probably the biggest benefits when it comes to moving to the cloud. If you are an aware user, you can make the most of features like data compression and reduplication in order to make enormous savings. Used efficiently, these features can help achieve more bandwidth over time, leading to optimal uptime and productivity.

Companies often take all this lightly or are unable to develop their know-how of it, and end up being at loss. Contrary to that, smarter businesses are able to save on cloud bandwidth and get the benefits of hybrid cloud computing in the long run. This allows them to keep their replicated data with them all the times, making it possible to access it when required.

Tip: Since the cloud is about more flexibility and efficiency, make sure you are able to use available bandwidth as efficiently as possible.

5 Technologies that Will Soon be Inside You

Man or machine? Soon enough, there will be little distinguishing between the two as machines are set to enter human bodies. This post lists out 5 such technologies.

Some of the technologies that may become part of the human body are no more in conceptual phase. They are being tested as we speak and may soon be launched as viable products. Here’s a selection of 5 such technologies:

1. Smartphones That Can Be Implanted

Despite the fact that we are always connected to our phones by way of touch 24x7, there is still the possibility that we may be connected further.

Imagine having that smartphone inside you. Anthony Antonellis, an artist experimented by installing a RFID chip into his arm to redirect ideas about art directly to the chip. What about the screen? Well, scientists are working on an artificial skin pad that could be used as display or your eye transplants.

2. Chips That Cure

There are already chips and micro-chips in place that are connected directly to monitory apps and smartphones. Scientists are working on swallowable microchips which will act like a pseudo-pancreas; these tiny chips will act as a heart rate monitor or a device for monitoring sugar levels, blood pressure, toxins and pretty much anything you can think of.

3. Birth Control on a Chip

None other than Bill Gates is behind this project. The Gates Foundation has been pushing for this MIT project where a small implantable microchip is controlled by a remote control and it generates contraceptive hormones at the push of a button.

4. Brain-Computer Interface

We have heard and talked about this for years now. But, a team at the Brown University is making significant headway in the process. By installing miniscule electrodes in the brain, the team has verified that neuro-signals can be decoded by the computer in real-time. Intel has predicted that the Brain-Computer interface will come into existence by 2020. Imagine being able to traverse the Internet with the power of your thought alone. Sounds crazy, right?

5. The ID Chips

For good or bad, scientists say the embedded ID chips are inevitable. On the one hand, where they improve crime-fighting, investigative assistance, medical monitoring etc., there is the flipside where the ID’s become a tool for the controllers to govern, as George Orwell presented in his epic creation 1984.

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Compiled by Motionwave Technologies Pty Ltd.

What SMBs Really Want From the Cloud?

SMBs from virtually all industries have either moved to the cloud or are preparing to shift. What exactly is driving them to act? Read on to find out!

SMBs worldwide are fast moving to the cloud, motivating a few those who are not able to decide. And since its benefits are numerous, Internet service providers and IT companies have designed special packages for small businesses. 

SMB’s in turn have special cloud requirements. What are these requirements, let’s find out in the following:

SMBs and the Cloud

Actually, cloud computing has a lot to do with how small businesses can survive and eventually thrive in today’s highly competitive corporate scene.

Once on the cloud, small businesses:

• Need not spend substantial amounts on running servers or hire in-house IT staff.
• They can save lots of money that would have been spent on physically visiting IT technicians.
• They get remote access to crucial business data and cost-effective disaster recovery services.
• They can free themselves from the responsibility of purchasing, installing and maintaining hardware and software on their own.  

It is About Versatility and Confidence

There is much more to SMBs falling for the cloud than cost savings and handiness. Practically, the cloud allows you to ask for and attain more than what’s designed for your type of small business. With the cloud, you can use CRM without having to take costly subscription plans. You can even use Lync to route calls from Skype within negligible costs and without having to get extra tools.

Self-Service is not a Bad Idea

The “self service” part of cloud is good for your small business, especially as long as you are not interested or don’t have to get into the details of the services you are using. This keeps you and your associates limited to using only those files, apps or documents that are required. This makes the entire business process more accurate and safer. After all, you would never want a user’s control panel to be littered with any unwanted information. 

Smart Ways to Improve Your Cloud Strategy

When moving to the cloud, make sure you have a foolproof strategy. Read on for tips that can help you develop one!

Are you planning to move your business to the cloud?

Although this may help your business in several ways, it is more important that you have a practical cloud strategy in place. If you already have one, you can take disaster recovery services to improve it.

Here are ways to strengthen you cloud strategy:

1. Align Your Business and IT

It is important that your business strategy incorporates cloud computing also. Here, you should keep in mind that your cloud computing strategy is not solely for the IT department. Involve your entire organization in order to generate more creativity and innovation. 

2. Know What to Move and What Not

No organization can move everything to the cloud. So, find out how much of your unique business can be shifted.

It won’t make sense to renew a contract if you have an obsolete package that is complicated and expensive to maintain. Carrying the same contracts forward might prove to be highly negative for your business.

3. Customize the Cloud for Your Unique Requirements

Your ultimate goal should be achieving improved safety, high availability of data and information and maximum uptime. Review your disaster recovery services and policies from the standpoint of ensuring optimal data integrity and cost-effectiveness. Make sure you give equal importance to data security and backup.

4. Re-Scrutinize Your Business Process

You should make the most of every opportunity offered by the cloud. Revise and update your business process regularly. For example, when you move to Google Apps, don’t keep sticking to your old, outdated processes with Google. Your purpose is to collaborate crucial documents rather than move them back and forth.