As we have previously explored, the world has been turned on its head by the Covid-19 pandemic. The sudden move to remote working forced businesses to panic buy tools that do not serve a purpose, they cannot use effectively, or that they do not understand.
The increase in remote working has accentuated the already rapid increase in the use of IT and cloud infrastructure; both are gradually becoming the most integral part of most businesses worldwide. Adopting these techniques is the logical thing to do, especially in the world of today. The cloud allows remote working to be possible, and for you to create a business infrastructure that has the power to produce advanced levels of productivity compared to the original limited methods of pen and paper.
Cloud infrastructure is not easy to understand. Let us explore some ways to be sure you know what you are buying.
Questions
Questions are important. Asking yourself some questions regarding your cloud infrastructure can be beneficial to your business now and into the future.
Where is my data stored?
A key question, and one of the most important questions of all. Knowing where your data is stored is a must, as data transferred outside of the country of origin can be illegal unless sufficient legal protection is in place.
How difficult is the migration?
Long lengthy migrations can have a serious effect on production, perhaps even causing you considerable downtime. Find out from the provider how difficult a transition to the new infrastructure could be. It can pose problems such as staff training not being cost-effective, or the time it takes to finish migration impacting workflow is too much compared to other providers’ options – check first.
Is it familiar?
Familiarity is key. Everyone gets used to a certain way of doing things – that is not to say that change is not necessary but keeping those changes as gradual as possible is of the utmost importance when it comes to business. Remote working can be hard enough to adjust to without added stress and change to work-processes all happening at once. It can also be a very time-consuming exercise to train staff in the new systems, especially from a remote work setting.
Does it allow for integrations?
Integration has the power to dramatically improve the productivity you produce on the average workday, especially within a remote work setting. Applications like Microsoft Teams offers a way to find all your work needs in one easy to use place.
It can be difficult to know what you are buying in the world of IT – some of the language used is solely directed at a certain demographic that already has knowledge of the matter and speaks the same language. Here is an example of four main cloud infrastructures that are subscription-based.
Four cloud infrastructure acronyms
- SaaS – Software as a Service
- IaaS – Infrastructure as a Service
- PaaS – Platform as a Service
- HaaS – Hardware as a Service
Let us take a further look at the acronyms and their meanings.
SaaS
SaaS is where a third-party provider hosts applications whilst making them available to customers over the internet – all on a subscription-based model. Your agreed payment plan includes the latest software upgrades and a secure environment for storage and collaboration, all with constant monitoring.
IaaS
IaaS is a computing infrastructure that is managed over the internet. Your agreement puts the responsibility of the infrastructure in the hands of your provider whilst you provide and purchase your own software – software that must be monitored and maintained by you. Your provider has no responsibilities surrounding your software or its condition.
HaaS
HaaS is a business model where your provider will supply you with your hardware within your agreed monthly fee, which could range from printers to fax machines to phones. Your provider will be responsible for the maintenance of this hardware.
PaaS
PaaS is a type of cloud computing that offers a platform to clients, giving them the free reign to manage certain applications of their own without any responsibility of maintaining the infrastructure behind it.
This terminology will put you in good stead in your quest to buying the correct tools to utilise your remote working. Still unsure what you need? Think you still need some help? We can help you.
Elixis Technology is here to help
At Elixis Technology have the expertise to guide you in a personally tailored direction that best suits your business. We can ensure you buy the correct tools to support a remote work setting, thereby helping your employees to thrive – whatever the setting. Contact us to find out more today.
For more information, feel free to send us a message.