There's much buzz about 'the cloud' and how everything and everyone is moving to it. But what is the cloud? What is it good for? How is it being used - and mis-used? And how can it help your business?
We'll explore these topics in a series of articles -starting right here!
What is the Cloud, anyway? "Cloud Computing" refers to local users taking advantage of remotely located resources (databases, applications, etc.) which are often in the hands of a 3rd party. Its their job to keep the resources running, so you can access them over the Internet. Sounds great, right? Yes ... and no.
Cloud computing puts your precious data - and the ability of your staff and customers to access it - in the hands of an outside vendor ... often one who is scaling its service by providing cloud services to thousands or millions of other users from the same platform. If their platform slows or wobbles or goes offline ...or if your internet connectivity is compromised ... you have no access to your applications - and your business could come to a halt.
We find it helpful to break up Cloud Computing into several categories:
- Back end services - such as SynerTel Efolder data security / backup - where the cloud is the secure storage location for encrypted backup copies of your data.
- Cloud based applications - like SynerTel Hosted Exchange, SharePoint, Google Apps, etc. Here, your users are really working in real time with data and apps on our remote servers.
- Cloud based line-of-business applications - special software for your type of business (pharmacy, hardware retail, transportation dispatch, etc.) running remotely in a cloud server.
- Cloud-based telephony and messaging.
We'll discuss each of these areas further in future articles. If you have immediate questions or interest -
let us know and we'll be happy to help!
The FCC just threw the book at one firm who had 'crammed' $37M of 
Ever wonder why some Voice over IP implementations sounds like they involve a rusty pay phone on Mars, while others work near flawlessly? 
We are very excited to announch the launch of our next-generation "taking care of you even better!" software. While we've done a good job using several older systems loosely tied together, its been labor-intensive and occasionally, we've slipped. In the new world - its all one system - and its relentless about our meeting response time standards, and ensuring issues are fully addressed!
Pictured here - SynerTel Vice President of Operations Dee Long with David Watts, Senior Connectwise Consultant at the international Connectwise IT Nation 2010 conference in Orlando, FL. David has patiently assisted us with getting the kinks out so Connectwise will be smooth for you. 