Glasgow Business . 37
www.glasgowchamberofcommerce.com
PARTLY CLOUDY Here’s the forecast for IT: widespread cloud with some in-house infrastructure
I
t wasn’t too long ago that cloud-based IT services were touted as the future for all businesses and that having your own infrastructure was going the way of floppy
disks and dial-up internet access – an amusing relic of a bygone age. Yet, while there has been an undeniable
advance of the cloud, businesses have been canny and practical in their approach. Tey take advantage of cloud-based solutions where appropriate, while those that have already invested in in-house resources continue to make the most of their benefits. As Kevin Mitchell of Vector Cloud in
Glasgow said, there are several benefits to operating a cloud-based system. “For a start, there’s a flat monthly fee that companies get accustomed to paying and which proves easier on their cash flow in comparison to expensive one-off payments for IT infrastructure. Tere is no need for regular hardware and soſtware upgrades. And a cloud-based service includes back-end soſtware, such as the Microsoſt Exchange platform for email.” Cloud solutions use secure data centres,
which are fed by multiple broadband suppliers and are backed up by other sites to ensure data is kept safe. Tey oſten promise – and deliver – 100 per cent uptime, which would only be possible through massive expenditure if you were running your own infrastructure.
In business, mobile devices are omnipresent
and lots of people – business owners and managers, as well as staff – want to be able to work from home or the local coffee shop without hindrance. However, if you host IT infrastructure in your own premises, you can find yourself restricted by broadband speed, network capabilities and potential security threats – all issues that data centres are able to handle much more easily.
INCREASED EFFICIENCY
Strategic advantages also include the increased efficiency that’s offered by the cloud, which can mean you are able to rapidly deploy services, even having some ready for use in minutes, rather than weeks or months. Being able to deliver results faster, more cost-effectively and with more quality helps to give your business a competitive edge. Cloud services can enable business
innovation and help generate new revenue
streams. Some companies are building entirely new business models solely using cloud services; one of the most easily recognisable is the music service Spotify. When you use the cloud you take advantage
of standardised services that significantly reduce issues and defects. Tis leads to beter business continuity and reduces the time you spend on operational issues. Of course, more efficient projects and fewer
operational issues let your employees focus on more useful activities. If your people are your greatest asset, using them more effectively must have greater payoffs for your business.
HYBRID APPROACH
As businesses move to cloud-based scenarios, most are exploiting hybrid solutions. David Wilson, Sales Director of Glasgow-
based Centrum, explained: “When we talk to clients we undertake a feasibility study which identifies the best approach. Very oſten that will see the company moving certain components into the cloud, whether that’s email, back up disaster recovery or storage for data sharing. Our discussions usually focus on one key aspect – the broadband service they are able to receive. Sadly, broadband provision is prety poor across the UK. In areas such as Glasgow
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