The Cloud - it's a hot topic and trend in technology today. Many Fortune 500 companies have already embraced the Cloud concept for their information technology (IT) and data management systems. Now licensing options are making that technology increasingly viable for small to midsized companies. What questions and answers do you need to have about your company and outsourcing IT as you consider using the Cloud for IT solutions and data management?

 

TTE recently talked to Adam Citron, Senior Cloud Computing Strategist of Adar IT to find out. Passionate about technology, Citron loves working with business owners. "There's a passion they have that's different," he says. And, he loves seeing the impact of great services and products in their business benefit them directly. Like most company decisions though, deciding to go to the Cloud is a multi-faceted decision evaluating internal, external, broad, and specific factors.

 

Current workflow, tools used, and business goals are three internal areas of assessment. In relation to workflow, evaluate how the work is done operationally and procedurally, but also from the user's perspective. Will employees be working onsite, remotely, or a combination of both? Observe where employees tend to work - at their own desk, at someone else's desk, in their lap while not at their desk, standing up at a counter or high table, at a library, or in a coffee shop. Do they need to see work they are doing on desktops, tablets, or other devices in real-time or is a time lag acceptable?

 

Overlapping workflow considerations are the tools used. "People may want to bring in their own device to work and use their own iPad as well as sitting at the desk. They want more flexibility on where they can work from depending on the position," says Citron. He's also seeing a bigger focus on having creative office spaces where you're not bound to a particular desk or space. The age of hardware equipment factors into the decision too. When equipment needs to be replaced might be a better time to go to the Cloud than if you just made a significant capital investment in new tools.

 

Software is also a key consideration here. "When companies are looking to go to the Cloud, one of the most important things is will we still function the same? Can we still run our day-to-day business the same way that we've been running our day-to-day business?" says Citron. "So, one of the most critical factors is the type of software a company is using." Not all software is an ideal Cloud fit yet for small to midsized companies outsourcing contexts. One example is graphic-intensive software programs, according to Citron. While this challenge can be handled for a small number of users, it can be more of a challenge when the need is system-wide across the company for most users. Also, cost could be a factor if significant reconfiguration programming is needed.

 

Workflow and Tool Question Checklist:

• Type of workflow operations and procedures?
• Number of system users?
• Workspace layout desired?
• Devices used for work projects?
• Software system load anticipated?
• Specific software programs required?
• Software licensing needed?
• Age of computer hardware and software?
• Recent IT investments?
• Reconfiguration programming necessary? 

Company goals and plans are a third area of internal assessment. Mergers, acquisitions, or a company sale would impact technology decisions. Work force changes, new locations, or a company move would also impact technology decisions. "There are certain pieces like moving, adding locations that are significantly cheaper when you're in the Cloud," says Citron. "So, getting a good understanding of your business plan and where you're going is important."

 

Company Goals Question Checklist:

• Ownership changes?
• Leadership changes?
• Work force changes?
• Location additions or changes?  

As you broaden the scope of your decision beyond the company walls and externally to the outsourcing aspect of IT and the Cloud, key areas here are security, equipment, and customer service. "When someone puts data and their livelihood in the Cloud, they want to know that you are a well-backed company," says Citron. "They want to know that you have a great data center behind you and that they're very secure and that it's not just a server in someone's basement."  For Adar IT that means multiple data centers; frequent data back-ups; redundancy in systems, power supplies, and Internet connections; and client security policies and procedures.

 

Making sure you have a good, and redundant if possible, Internet connection as well as a strong enough bandwidth to support the Cloud and number of users is also important, according to Citron. On a customer service side, how easily is the company able to change the number of users on the system when new employees come in or others leave? Find out what the procedure would be for equipment repair or maintenance and if there would be an extra cost to it.

 

Outsourcing and Cloud Checklist:

• Redundancy elements in place?
• Scalability options offered?
• Frequency of data back-ups?
• Bandwidth available at your location?
• Equipment included by service provider?
• Equipment repair and maintenance responsibility?

And last but not least, a good match for any outsourcing project is a company you like, trust, and who offers the kind of support you want.

 

 

Joining Adar IT in 2013, Adam brings more than thirteen years of successful sales, marketing and managerial experience to the organization. Adam's strengths include carefully listening to customer needs so Adar IT can  deliver a solution that offers maximum value, and developing long-term, successful relationships. Pre-Adar, he was a Partner at Netrix LLC, an IT solutions firm for four years. Prior to that experience, Adam had his own company for six years on Chicago's North Shore focusing on helping his small business clients with their IT and Marketing needs. Adam holds a Computer Science degree from Roosevelt University.