Cloud computing has allowed businesses to scale unlike any time before, all without breaking the budget. One such cloud provider is Amazon, and its Amazon Web Services platform allows businesses to manage their cloud computing needs. Today, we’re exploring some of the ways that AWS aids businesses with varied cloud computing needs.
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Virtualizing your business’ software is pretty much just keeping it in an online environment, as compared to your own network infrastructure. This means that it lives in the cloud, delivered to you through the Internet. This approach has proved fortuitous for a great many businesses, so it only stands to reason that virtualizing hardware is a reasonable next step.
Technology has enabled some of the greatest changes in the business world, so it makes sense that your company should try to implement it as needed. Unfortunately, it can be a bit confusing, especially if you have not thought about it in recent years. Thankfully, there are three pillars that can hold up a digital transformation strategy and enable change for your business.
Business hardware is never a small investment to make, so for a business to make the best use out of their invested funds, their hardware needs to be seriously considered. One way to do so is to use a virtualized environment, whether that environment is hosted onsite or in the cloud. Let’s consider the inherent benefits of virtualization.
Of all the hardware you utilize in your business, your servers are likely to generate the highest costs - especially when you consider how much they cost to procure, power, and maintain. A considerable part of running a successful business is to know how to use these kinds of resources optimally, getting the most bang for your buck, as the saying goes.
Virtualization is a topic that a lot of people might hear about frequently, but not necessarily understand. It has a lot of details to keep in mind, but the concepts can be remembered easier by simplifying these details. We’ll take a closer look at some of the finer details of virtualization and what it means for your business’ infrastructure.
With cloud computing on the rise, more businesses than ever before are taking advantage of great new tools that allow them to get the leg up on the competition. With virtual technology services at their disposal, they are completely changing the way that they approach computing, and the best part is that these services are affordable even for smaller organizations with limited budgets. Here are three of the best ways your organization can implement virtualization solutions.
Software as a Service (SaaS)
Cloud-hosted software is part of a trend that is increasing the accessibility of applications designed to improve the way you do business. Thanks to this type of software, SMBs are able to grow more dynamically and achieve more flexibility in the way that they function. Examples of Software as a Service include well-known solutions such as Microsoft Office 365 and Google’s G-Suite, but just about any software that is offered through the cloud on a subscription basis can be deemed Software as a Service. The main attraction of SaaS is that businesses make smaller monthly payments to use the same software that would otherwise require a full-fledged license purchase. If you’ve ever had to purchase multiple licenses for multiple users, you know how this can be a great way to save money for any small business.
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)
Virtual telephone solutions like VoIP are actively replacing the traditional telephony infrastructure in the office environment. This is mainly due to the fact that they decrease costs overall and provide a level of flexibility that’s never been seen before, both in and out of the workplace. Since you use the Internet to make and receive calls, you’re using something that you already pay for to eliminate an unnecessary expense. Plus, you can use VoIP apps on a traditional handset, a desktop or laptop, and even your smartphone, allowing you to take your office phone number on the go.
Hardware Virtualization
If you have been managing an entire in-house IT infrastructure on your own, you know how challenging it can be to manage servers and other networking components. Due to this immense responsibility, many organizations are choosing to outsource the care of their networking components through a hardware virtualization vendor. This allows companies to consolidate their servers to make better use of their resources, as well as save on energy costs, like air conditioning and electricity. Plus, you’ll be able to access any of these resources through the cloud, and you’ll be able to simplify your in-house network considerably.
If your business is ready to take the next step toward technological advancement, reach out to PCSOFT at 02 98730080. Our trusted technicians are happy to discuss what we can do for your business.
Making the move to the cloud is far from an easy task. You need a process that’s tailored specifically for your organization, and one which is open to adaptation. If your plans are foiled by unexpected complications, it can be difficult to keep on track, and your cloud’s migration could become a nightmare.
Your network is one of your most valuable assets, as is made evident by how much you depend on access to crucial resources and applications. On the other hand, managing your network can be an immense pain, especially if you’re continuously connecting new hardware components and workstations. Thankfully, there’s an easier way to handle the deployment of your business’s critical infrastructure.
The cloud is changing the way that businesses keep track of their data, deploy applications, and access hardware like servers, desktops, and even networks. Yet, despite the massive benefits that the cloud and virtualization bring to the table, many organizations are still reluctant to make such a dramatic change to their infrastructure. Therefore, we’re here to make the cloud less scary of an investment for SMBs.
Defining Cloud Computing
Cloud computing is when a business stores information in an online environment. You can think of the cloud as a computer (or a series of computers) that’s managed and maintained by an external party, like a managed service provider. Your business hosts its data on this computer, and you access it via the Internet. It makes for a convenient and easy way to access your data, and the best part of cloud computing is that you don’t have to worry about upkeep. When it’s hosted by PCSOFT, we give it the same care and attention that we would provide to our own technology, so you know with certainty that it’s being taken care of to the best of our ability. Many organizations use the cloud to store their productivity suite, like Google Apps or Microsoft Office 365, and to store data that many employees need to access.
Defining Virtualization
Virtualization is the act of taking multiple pieces of your network, like a server, or a desktop, and running them virtually on a single piece of hardware. Doing so allows your business to eliminate the physical costs of running and maintaining multiple, and underutilized devices, and as such, it can be a great way to decrease overhead costs. Your organization can save a considerable amount of revenue through virtualization, which can be better invested in other parts of your business. Plus, virtualizing your network offers the opportunity to remove the physical components, which frees up plenty of room in the office for storage or other equipment.
One real-world example of virtualization is seen when a user’s desktop is deployed from a centralized or hosted server. Essentially, this allows the user to broadcast their desktop to any type of hardware, like a laptop, thin client desktop, a home PC, tablet, etc. This virtualization process provides users access to the files and applications they need, without running into the limitations of a computing device.
How are Virtualization and Cloud Computing Related?
The most dynamic way that cloud computing and virtualization are related comes by way of cost savings. Essentially, by entrusting your data to a virtualized infrastructure, you’re gaining access to high-end computing hardware, and when you go with a cloud provider, you gain the ability to provide needed computing resources for more users per capita, for less. Additionally, cloud computing provides a level of remote monitoring and maintenance that is difficult and expensive to achieve with an in-house team.
Managing and maintaining your business’s data shouldn’t have to be a struggle. If your in-house team isn’t fully invested in spending the time to know and understand your technology solutions, or they simply don’t have the time to give it the care that it needs, you could benefit from having an outsourced IT company like PCSOFT around to pick up the slack. With managed IT at your disposal, you can free up your team to handle new initiatives while knowing that your technology is being cared for by professional technicians.
Our technicians have the skills required to help you choose and implement any type of cloud solution for your business. Furthermore, once you’ve already migrated to the cloud, management and maintenance becomes easier than ever before. Instead of updating each individual workstation or server, we can handle it all in one fell swoop. This makes cloud computing and virtualization crucial processes toward maximizing your bottom line and income potential.