In the world of computing, history has a tendency to repeat itself – and there is a common theme noticeable in the last few decades – massive, centralised systems are the way of the past and personalised, simpler systems are the way forward.
If you were around in the 1980s, your company may have taken ‘the revolutionary step’ towards investing in “data processing” services (e.g. for payroll) from a company that has computer systems for that purpose. Similarly, cloud computing is a service that takes away the need for additional software/ hardware in your system and allows you to access all the tools you need through the internet. You may have already noticed it impacting a range of industries, from graphic design to even accounting – where all the tools those professions require, no long need to be invested in or maintained in-house.
The movement of companies’ IT spend towards the cloud is understandable. Replacing server and network infrastructure with cloud services lead to a meaningful, direct reduction in IT spend. Hence, top service providers in the industry like IBM, Hewlett-Packard, Microsoft and Oracle are already investing heavily in cloud based solutions to keep up with this popular transition.
Business cloud solutions are many. Hosted desktops (a virtual machine that hosts the operating system, applications, data and other system configurations of a physical desktop), hosted email and cloud storage are simply a few. For any work related task (collaboration, video conferencing or system security) – there is either a Saas (Software as a Service), PaaS (Platform as a Service) or IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service) solutions available now, with broad benefits such as:
Flexibility – In today’s dynamic work culture, the requirement to have a video conference, share files or collaborate on projects can be on very short notice and even in transit. In house infrastructure can rarely (if ever) accommodate that kind of flexibility. Plus, these facets being on the cloud saves up a lot of time for IT admins.
Cost – In house systems cost thousands of dollars up front (if not hundreds of thousands in larger organizations). When your IT budget is on a tight leash, a pay as you go model offered by most video conferencing services is an easy choice.
Simplicity – Tech like H.323 and SIP are necessary for video conferencing. SME usually don’t have the personnel nor the familiarity to seamlessly integrate them with current processes – usually leading to the task being handed over to a 3rd party (further cost) or having to invest in the right IT admins (or in training) to implement it.
Multiple Device Compatibility – Cloud based conferencing tools offer the flexibility of using a range of mainstream devices. Offering this compatibility through an in house systems can be quite challenging.
Security – Cloud based services such as WebEx or Zoom offer encryption services for your communication. So the confidentiality of your communication is better maintained in all accounts, meetings, applications, and ports. On top of that there are options like passcodes to make the permissions to your conferences more secure.
Is your organisation also at a point of considering cloud based business solutions (e.g. video conferencing)? Get in touch with our specialist audio visual team and they will be sure to recommend the best solution for you!
