How Small and Medium-Sized Businesses Can Make the Most of It
Eric Zarko, Account Executive, Iconic IT
If you’re looking into harnessing the 5G and cloud computing revolution for your business, there’s no better place to do it than Dallas. According to a Cushman & Wakefield global market comparison, Dallas is the sixth-largest market in the world for data centers, and it makes sense with companies like AT&T, Sprint, Verizon, T-Mobile, and Samsung Home using Texas as their 5G launching pad.
By next year, mobile phones will process 25 GB a day, and 5G networks will run 40 times faster at four times the capacity of 4G. It’s now cheaper and easier than ever to move your operations out of the server room and into the cloud.
Is cloud computing the right thing for small or medium-sized (SMB) companies? With the abundance of scalable and affordable products in Dallas now, that answer is almost always yes. To make it work for your company, you should ask your IT provider — what’s in it for us? and how can we use the cloud to further our business objectives?
Here are five questions any SMB owner should ask before making the strategic leap to the cloud:
No. 1: How can cloud computing help me streamline my IT spend?
Cloud services can do more than just eliminate your server room. They can allow you to:
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- eliminate whole work processes for your staff
- stream your software, and lower your licensing costs
- enable remote work, and potentially close some office spaces
- introduce new project management and file-sharing systems
- cut your landline phones, getting you a cheaper and far more powerful VOIP system
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Cloud computing is more than just a platform that carries your data. It can allow you to completely rethink how your network operates, and what you can accomplish with it.
No. 2: How can I use the cloud to future-proof my company?
If you’re planning to expand or change your business plan over the next 10 years, build the right cloud computing platform now. Talk to your IT provider about foundational investments that will give you the user experience you want in the future.
No. 3: How can the cloud help my company stay ahead of emerging security threats?
Cloud services like Microsoft Windows 365 Cloud PC already have security measures like multi-factor and zero-trust authentication baked into its system, but what happens if there’s a cyberattack (one word)? Where does your cloud service backup? And what are you doing to create a secondary cloud backup system that can be downloaded quickly? Is your staff up-to-date on cybercrime prevention? A switch to cloud computing is the right choice to close the holes in your cybersecurity systems.
No. 4: How can I use cloud computing to improve connection, transparency, and productivity?
Microsoft’s cloud-based office tools can address all the above. SharePoint lets you share documents and news; Teams improves communication and collaboration with an enterprise-grade chat feature, , and Outlook helps you manage schedules and Zoom meetings. As you invest in the cloud, think strategically about how you’ll use this technology to boost overall productivity at your company.
Another thing to note: Iconic IT recently was part of an elite group of managed service providers (MSP) who beta tested Microsoft’s new Windows 365 Cloud PC program. Why is it revolutionary? It takes the software and data to the cloud as well as your entire operating system. This platform gives an employee office network access on any device, anytime, anywhere.
Want to see Cloud PC in action? Director of Operations Matt Topper narrates a step-by-step video on how it works.
No. 5: Will cloud computing help my organization meet our regulatory requirements?
If you handle sensitive ,regulated data (think legal, medical, and credit card information)you may need specialty cloud services aligned with your industry vertical. You should also consider specialized employee security training. And don’t forget to give special thought to issues like download speed, accessibility, and how well these systems can integrate into your existing programs.
The future of cloud computing is now. Are you ready?
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Eric Zarko is a Dallas-based account executive at Iconic IT, a national managed service provider dedicated to serving small and medium-sized business. The company has a large presence in Dallas and Tyler, Texas. For more information, visit the Iconic IT website.