TECHNOLOGY
Let’s review the seven layers that enable the cloud, and then some ways you can use the cloud in your business to communicate better, streamline processes and automate nearly every imaginable task: 1. DEVICES: Back in the ‘90s I got by with a cell phone, a computer and a nice set of pleated khakis. Now there are smartwatches, smartphones, phablets, mini-tablets, 10 inch tablets, pro size tablets, ultrabooks, laptops and desktops. That miniature supercomputer of a smartphone in your pocket is many times more powerful than your 1995 Pentium computer. The proliferation of powerful internetconnected devices of all sizes is layer one. 2. APPS: Endless apps for every imaginable purpose is layer number two. Many apps allow you to access functionality and data across any device you choose. This is extremely useful when you create a document on your computer and want to finish editing it on your phone while you wait for the barista to get your Americano. 3. BANDWIDTH: The world wide web used to be the world wide wait because internet speeds were so slow even with a wired connection. With the advent of 4G, everybody now has incredibly fast internet wirelessly in their pocket. Ubiquitous bandwidth for our devices and apps is layer three.
DEMYSTIFYING
THE CLOUD F O R B U S I N E S S It seems every software company is either in the cloud, moving to the cloud or cloud based. I happen to be typing this article in the cloud right now. Not physically, but the bits of this article are magically saving to my cloud-based document editor as I clickety clack the letters out. It’s comforting to think of each letter floating safely to rest on a white fluffy cumulus somewhere close to the heavens, but that’s not really what’s going on. The letters are being stored in farflung data centers in unknown places, hopefully safe and sound and ready for me to edit at any time, from any device I choose. So what exactly is the cloud? The cloud is a metaphor and marketing term for many layers of technology that have evolved and combined over the years to appear like one cohesive thing. To explain the cloud, it may help to use a different metaphor. I like to think of it more like a seven-layer salad with each layer made up of many small pieces that when combined make something delicious, in the case of the salad, and very useful for business, in the case of the cloud.
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4. API’S: Application Programming Interfaces are the standard language that allows apps to talk to platforms where the data is stored. Cloud apps also often seamlessly work with other cloud apps because developers have already used API’s to pre-integrate them. Notice how your calorie counting app downloads data from your fitness app, and you now understand API’s. 5. PLATFORMS: Amazon has a multi-billion dollar “side business” called Amazon Web Services (AWS) that allows you to host your entire server infrastructure in the cloud. This so-called public cloud platform is incredibly compelling from a cost standpoint, and large organizations like Netflix, Capital One and the CIA are shutting down their own data centers and moving to AWS and competing platforms like Microsoft’s Azure. 6. STORAGE: Our society is generating data at an alarming rate. Just think how many pictures you’ve automatically uploaded to your iCloud account. Part of these platform companies like AWS is the ability to seamlessly provision more storage for your files and data because it’s all virtual. No more having to worry about adding more space to your email server because everyone keeps replying all. 7. PHYSICAL SERVERS: Amazon, Google and Microsoft have multiple millions of individual servers in their own data centers to underpin their massive computing platforms. Millions! This provides economies of scale that businesses of any size can take advantage of.
How can you take advantage of the cloud? First consider moving your physical servers to virtual servers on a cloud platform like AWS. Secondly you can use packaged cloud apps that are already built on top of the seven-layer salad, for example: • E mail: It’s really not a good idea anymore to have your own email server. Get rid of it and use Microsoft Office 365 or Google Gmail for Business. • D ocuments: File servers are so 1997. Use Google Docs or Microsoft Office 365 to collaborate on documents in real time and get yourself out of that file versioning quagmire. • C ollaboration Tools: Do you want to reduce your internal email burden while building your shared corporate memory? Implement Slack (www.slack.com) for team collaboration. • CRM: Is your sales team still using their personal rolodexes? Consider a cloud-based customer relationship management (CRM) solution like Salesforce (www.salesforce.com) or Microsoft CRM (www.microsoft.com). • A ccounting Software: Stop printing green bar paper and hoofing it around the office like a pack mule. Cloud- based accounting software like Intacct (www.intacct.com) and Netsuite (www.netsuite.com) is not only available, it’s maturing. • Other: Try one of the many other cloud apps for things like project management, file sharing, note taking or to do lists. Explore the world of cloud apps and see what else you can automate. The cloud is everywhere and holds the distinct advantage of being managed at scale by huge tech companies that typically know what they’re doing. Using the cloud services lets you focus on your core business and worry less about managing technology. It also offers solutions that can be accessed on the go from any device. While there may be security, regulatory, cost and other concerns that keep you from using some cloud apps, most businesses are undergoing some sort of cloud migration. It doesn’t have to be all or nothing. Thoroughly vet each cloud service, and migrate when it makes sense. Another way to think of the cloud is like a tool, maybe a really complicated nail gun. You may not want to jump into using it too quickly and end up nailing your pants to your deck, but you also don’t want to be the last carpenter left trying to pound in every nail with a hammer. LT BY AARON CARGAS, Vice President of Marketing and Product Development, Cargas Systems Contact Aaron at acargas@cargas.com
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