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Study Finds that 45% of Virtual Machines Would Run More Efficiently in the Cloud

b2ap3_thumbnail_i_choose_the_cloud_400.jpg By now you’ve surely heard about the benefits of cloud computing, but a new survey by TSO Logic might be just the proof you need to make the leap to the cloud. The survey analyzed 10,000 physical servers and 25,000 virtual machines, and the results are quite revealing!

At the end of the survey, TSO Logic found that 45 percent of virtual machines would run more proficiently if they were managed in the cloud. At 45 percent, this is a pretty significant chunk of servers. The reasons why cloud servers outshone their hardware-based counterparts varies. In 26 percent of the inspected machines, both on-premise and virtual machines suffered from a critical problem called over-provisioning. Basically, this means that the machines were set up in a way which caused them to use more resources than they have to work with.

InformationWeek reported that TSO Logic’s CEO Aaron Rallo came to the following conclusion: “Migrating them to the cloud and right-sizing them there would result in a 36 percent savings over their current operating cost.”

While any amount of savings is welcome in business, a large figure like 36 percent is particularly impressive. The expenses of implementing cloud solutions can be easily covered by the cost savings, and this efficiency only serves to further reduce cost savings. This cloud migration scenario also makes for the perfect time to upgrade older server units as well, since you can save money and reduce the odds of hardware failure with a hardware refresh. InformationWeek reports: “A secondary finding was that merely upgrading systems to the latest generation of servers, whether on premises or in the cloud, would also result in considerable savings. Twenty-five percent of the physical servers surveyed were more than three years old, meaning they dated back into the Intel Nehalem chip era of 2013 and its predecessors.”

Yet, this prompts the question, “Do I really need to take these measures when everything seems to work just fine?” Inefficiencies might not be an immediate problem, but if there are enough of them, they will begin to accumulate and create problems for your organization. Instead, It’s best to use these proactive measures to keep problems from happening in the future. That’s what this study seems to predict, anyway, and it makes sense.

If your business is ready to get the most out of its cloud solutions, reach out to COMPANYNAME. We can host your servers in the cloud so that you don’t have to worry about their management and maintenance. Furthermore, we can offer a complete and thorough IT assessment so that you know exactly what your organization needs to accomplish with the cloud. To learn more, reach out to us at PHONENUMBER.

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Cloud

3 Compelling Reasons Why Your Business Should Move to the Cloud

b2ap3_thumbnail_introducing_cloud_computing_400.jpg Businesses are turning to the cloud because it’s designed to make operations easier and save them money. In light of these benefits, organizations that have yet to move to the cloud may be missing out on some serious advantages by continuing to do IT the hard way. If you’re still unsure about the cloud, then consider how these three features of cloud computing can change how you do business.

The Cloud Takes the Burden Off of Running an In-House Network
A business that hosts their data and IT infrastructure in-house is in charge of overseeing every aspect of maintaining their network. This includes everything from putting out fires when things go wrong to procuring new equipment. For many SMBs, what makes this responsibility challenging is the obvious fact that they’re not an IT company. However, by owning all of this equipment an SMB essentially has to take on some very technical responsibilities requiring professional knowledge.

The advantage of hosting your data and applications in the cloud is that you’re essentially outsourcing this responsibility to a cloud provider whose sole job is to oversee and protect your data. This frees up resources to better invest in your business goals, and gives you peace of mind that your data is being handled by professionals so that nothing is being overlooked.

Cloud Offers Flexibility
Today’s business environment makes accessing your work while on the go practically a necessity, and hosting your data can prove to be a complex endeavor when sharing files and information internationally. ITProPortal explains, “Global expansion has increased the need for international data centers, especially as security and privacy concerns lead to strict regulations that vary from country to country… Cloud computing with an established cloud partner with physical data centers across multiple geographies means your data can ‘live’ in just about any jurisdiction, and mitigates this problem.”

Plus, providing your workforce with anytime, anywhere access to their important files along with the ability to collaborate on projects in real-time is a huge bonus that will boost the productivity efforts of your business.

The Cloud is Secure
In the early years of cloud computing, one of the loudest arguments against the cloud was that it couldn’t be trusted because you’re essentially handing over sensitive data to a third party provider with unproven security protocols. However, with the rise of cloud computing in recent years, the public cloud option has undergone security upgrades by leaps and bounds and the data centers hosting your data have vast resources to commit to the security of your data–resources that SMBs lack. Therefore, today’s cloud options give users the security they need without having to sacrifice flexibility.

When all three of these features are considered, going with the cloud allows businesses to do much more for less. This allows SMBs to better distribute their resources toward profit-making initiates, while enjoying the benefits of a professionally maintained IT infrastructure, without having to pay for an in-house IT staff. To get started with cloud computing for your business, call COMPANYNAME at PHONENUMBER.

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Cloud

Educate Yourself About the Cloud Before Choosing a Cloud Provider

b2ap3_thumbnail_the_cloud_rundown_400.jpg As a business owner, you’ve probably heard plenty about how the cloud can improve operations and make your life easier. While it’s certainly capable of doing both, it’s important to understand what, exactly, the cloud is. How do you select the proper solution for your organization’s specific needs?

What is the Cloud?
The cloud is a way of computing that allows your business to store and access data in an online environment. To put it simply, you’re using someone else’s computer for the purposes of storing data. This computer or server is managed and secured, either by your business’s IT department or by security professionals within public cloud providers. As long as you have an Internet connection, you can access your data from anywhere at any time, and scale resources to match your particular needs at any given moment. This flexibility is the greatest benefit that the cloud offers businesses.

By using a cloud solution, you can cut your costs and increase mobile productivity substantially. The cloud can also improve internal collaboration across departments through shared storage space. In general, cloud computing is such a solid investment that you’d be hard-pressed to find a business that doesn’t utilize the cloud in some way, shape, or form.

We’ll discuss the three types of cloud solutions in detail so you can make an educated decision regarding your business’s cloud investment.

Public Cloud
The public cloud is a place where the general public can store data within a cloud environment. It’s set up in a way which allows users to access only their own part of the cloud. Of course, this also depends on the provider, but it can be either a free or paid service for however many resources you use. For a good example of how the public cloud works, look at G-Suite (Google’s cloud services), Microsoft Office 365, and Dropbox.

Granted, the public cloud still has its downsides. If you lose your Internet connection or you’re traveling without access to the Internet, you’ll have problems accessing your data. Plus, some providers are known to change the locations of stored data without informing you of the change, which could become problematic. Another major concern is that you won’t have complete and total control over your security standards.

While the services work for their price and are good for consumers, the public cloud might fall short of business expectations. A more customized solution can be found in the private or hybrid cloud.

Private Cloud
When we talk about the private cloud, we usually refer to one of two setups. Sometimes a company has the resources to host their own cloud solution, but in other cases, providers might offer an isolated section of their infrastructure for exclusive use by your organization. The provided solution is based on resource usage, while the private cloud that’s hosted on-site tends to be a bit more costly due to hiring IT staff to maintain it. Either way, the private cloud offers substantial improvements in terms of security, while requiring a bit more loving maintenance.

Hybrid Cloud
The hybrid cloud is a solution designed to utilize qualities of both the public and private cloud to achieve a similar level of service to both. By reaching through an infrastructure’s firewall to access resources, it effectively allows for a similar level of service as a public cloud with exceptionally more powerful security solutions. The hybrid cloud is ideally for use by organizations that need the customization it offers.

Which type of cloud are you interested in? To learn more about your options, give us a call at PHONENUMBER.