PCmag@Work (Small Business): Cloud Computing For Small Biz – Best Of The Best
PC Magazine explains cloud computing for newbies and looks at a baker’s dozen of services, including storage, productivity, finance/accounting, CRM and communications solutions.
“For better or for worse, cloud-computing is the technology of the future. Just ask Microsoft’s Steve Ballmer, who recently said that seventy percent of Microsoft employees are doing something at least related to cloud computing; in a year, that figure will be ninety percent. While some (such as PCMag’s crankiest geek, John Dvorak) think Microsoft should abandon cloud computing, the rest of the industry is pushing forward. Although cloud computing is not without concerns about security, stability, and data ownership, at its best it allows businesses to unshackle day-to-day operations from the local datacenter. Cloud computing is helping to shape today’s truly mobile workforce.
For small businesses, cloud computing hits a particular sweet spot. With cloud services, small businesses reap the benefits of not having to deploy physical infrastructure like file and e-mail servers, storage systems or shrink-wrapped software. Plus, the “anywhere, anytime” availability of these solutions, means hassle-free collaboration between business partners and employees by simply using a browser. In fact, it’s not a stretch to say that aside from a locally installed desktop operating system and browser, a lot of today’s small business technology needs can be fulfilled almost completely with cloud-based offerings.”
