How Cloud Technologies Can Streamline Your Business Processes

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Companies probably notice there is frequently a lot of buzz about the cloud in the technological world. However, there are good reasons as to why a business would want to investigate cloud technologies further, mainly because the cloud allows companies to accomplish more while using fewer resources such as their time and money.

Companies who want to always stay a step ahead of their competition are wise to research the tech world’s increasing promotion of cloud technologies.

So what kinds of advantages do cloud services really offer a company? A few of the advantages include concepts like:

  • Availability 24/7 – Support teams for cloud services are available 24/7, meaning employees working on a task late at night don’t have to wait to get help from the more traditional 9-to-5 IT center as in years past.
  • Accomplish Work Tasks Anywhere – Many employees work at home or on the go or spend most of their work day with clients at their offices. As this trend continues, employees and their managers will increasingly expect higher levels of mobility from their technology. Cloud services are delivered anytime, anywhere.
  • Greater Connectivity – Businesses, especially those who are taking advantage of the newer IoT technologies available, find vital information from scanners, smart meters, phones, etc., all working together to create instant information connections through the main access point of cloud services.
  • Increased Collaboration – Having instantaneous information connections allows employees to collaborate with each other at any time and from anywhere. An employee working on a report at their corporate headquarters can work directly with another employee halfway across the country in real-time on the same report.
  • Reduced Storage Costs – Companies also find that cloud services are simply more practical from a hardware perspective. As businesses grow, it can become quite expensive to house all the hardware necessary to support their increased data. Cloud technologies cut down on these storage costs so businesses can use their funds for other purposes.

Want to know more about what cloud services can do for your organization? Contact us.

How to Keep Your Business’s Mobile Devices More Secure

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Security is both an online and physical concern, even for mobile devices. More and more employees have laptops, tablets, and phones for their business tasks, and this is even truer for small businesses. If you’re worried about how secure your company’s devices are, here’s how to cover both angles.

What’s the physical threat to mobile devices’ security?

Phones get stolen. They also get lost. No matter how vigilant your employees you are, eventually a phone or tablet will go missing; up to 95% of security attacks are through stolen mobile devices or proximity-based phishing, which makes the devices themselves the weakest point in any defense.  This means you have to protect more than your business’s network: you have to protect what’s tapping into the network, too.

How can you protect your data from physical break-ins?

One option is to use a mobile device as a connection point only. Keep all of your files in a cloud that doesn’t require any downloading. Additionally, make sure all work is done through online portals. If your employees can comfortably get their work done through a browser or a protected app without turning to local storage or offline programs, then there’s nothing on the phone to steal.

Another option is to use security as a service program. Using sign-in systems that use devices in tandem makes a single stolen device useless. You can also use programs that allow you to remotely wipe lost devices once they’ve been reported. Thus, any cookies, caches, and data are out-of-reach.

Physical security of technology used to be easier when you had a single office with a privately owned server and desktop computers.

Mobile devices and working on the go are all but required to keep up with your competitors. So go to Bluwater Technologies to get started on closing gaps in your security.

Cloud Servers vs. Dedicated Servers: What’s a Better Fit For Your Business?

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Cloud Servers

With everything moving online through SaaS like Oracle, Taleo, and Salesforce, data backup is becoming a less and less unfamiliar idea. Many companies have employees that telecommute or sell software in the field, and having established networks so people can securely access information from anywhere is becoming more and more business critical. So one of the few remaining questions is: should your business store data on cloud servers or dedicated servers?

Benefits of Cloud Servers

Data is increasingly compact even as available storage grows exponentially beyond what experts thought possible even a decade ago. All of your business’s client information, employee files, and financial records will most likely take up less than a whole server or storage array, so you shouldn’t have to pay for one.

Cloud servers let your company use whatever percentage of a server you need to run your business. They even take into account dips and surges in what you need during your business’s busy season. Backup as a service also means your data is managed by a third-party company. You can access your data in a managed virtual environment that’s easy to read and search.

Benefits of Dedicated Servers

Sometimes businesses aren’t allowed to use cloud-based servers due to stringent security requirements and classified information. Then, they need to store company information on dedicated servers that are physically isolated and protected.

Mega corporations with dedicated IT departments and highly predictable usage might also benefit from using dedicated servers. But if you have a small or growing company, managing your own data without the flexibility of the cloud for spikes or idle periods can be costly.

Cloud-based backup is quick, cost-effective, and grows with your business during its ups and downs. Start getting the data backup that fits your business in minutes with Bluwater Technologies’s back up solutions here.

Benefits of Data Backup for Small Businesses

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Data Backup

If you’re a small business, you’re operating on a thin margin against larger companies. Delays and losses in information are especially costly as you try to establish a trustworthy, notable brand, and having a network crash is even worse if you’re the CEO, the sales manager, and the reigning IT expert. Bringing in a third-party service that can store and manage your data backup for you is one of the best ways you can both protect and grow your business. Here’s how:

Cloud storage can grow with your business.

Increasing your client base is one of the primary goals of any small business, and one of the best ways to do that is to have secure, bug-free data files for your customers’ records and contact information. Local storage is a risky way to run your business, and there’s a finite amount of space you can secure. Use a storage system that scales with your business instead.

Cloud storage keeps your business mobile.

Renting an office building might not be part of your business plan; if you, your employees, and your partners are all on the go, then secure, cloud-based storage means everyone can work from anywhere without the risk of someone stealing or tampering with your data.

Fixed costs save you money in the long term.

When you’re making forecasts and setting milestones for your business’s growth, having variable costs and trying to anticipate unexpected hardware failures can make your finances uncertain. Organize your books at a low fixed cost so you can focus on revenue instead of expenses.

One of the most important assets any small business has is the unique accumulation of clients and client information. Keeping your data safe and able to grow with Bluwater Technologies data backup plans is the best way to keep that asset safe. Get started here.

Minimize Cloud Migration Failure

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Minimize Cloud Migration Failure

The process of moving a small to medium-sized business to the cloud is unique for every organization.  However, there are some time-tested principles companies can embrace in order to minimize cloud migration failure and resolve issues as quickly as possible.  Companies who are flexible enough to bend or expect the unexpected typically are more successful in their migration to the cloud than those who have an inflexible “win/lose” outlook.

Resist the Desire to Micro-Manage

Those responsible for your technology solutions should have already been scrutinized for their expertise.  Trust the hiring decision you made in the first place and let them manage the project.  There is nothing wrong with a final meeting to review the process, but your technology provider should not need much more than a sign-off signature from you.

Be Proactive

Your tech team should have a comprehensive, organized plan to address potential problems before they happen.  They are experts at brainstorming for “what if” scenarios and how to address them should they occur, and that is why you hired them.

Adaptation is Key, not Blame

Some companies focus on finding someone to blame when something invariably goes wrong in the plan. Rather than focusing on finding solutions.  Don’t be that company.  Instead, focus on creating the kind of environment where value is placed on creative problem resolution rather than pointing fingers.  Users want access to their technology resources as quickly as possible, not gossip about who made a mistake.

Want to learn more about how to ensure a successful cloud migration process?  Contact us.