What is Cloud Technology - Suzie Evans from Supreme Systems unravels the mysteries surrounding the cloud.

1. Staying Ahead of the Competition
with Cloud Technology

2. Cloud – The Next Generation of Computing
The first recorded use of the word
1613 ‘computer’ in the English language
First modern programmable
1930s-1940s computers – number crunching (Enigma)
• We went from crunching numbers to letters
1960’s with the first databases, the first mass marketed
PC – HP, networking (info stored on one computer
and accessed from another)
1970’s • First portable computer

3. IBM 5100

4. Cloud – The Next Generation of Computing
• Developments: business applications like
1970’s Word Processors opened up the opportunity to
use computers in the business environment
• Developments in Communication
WWW launched to public!
1990’s – Who remembers this sound?

5. Dial Up!

6. The Internet
Now (as of 2011) more than 2.2 billion people,
nearly a third of the population,
use the services of the Internet
(Wikipedia)

7. What is the internet?
A virtual space that connects users from all over the globe,
sharing information by way of satellite networks,
hardware, software and lots of wires!
The internet is a network of networks. Computers
communicating with a common language so
they can easily pass data around the world.
What happens when you visit a website?
Cloud Technology is about using the internet’s resources in an advanced way.

8. You Already Use the Cloud

10. What is the Cloud?
IAAS – ‘shared resources, software
and information are provided to
devices on demand’ like renting
an office in a serviced building
SAAS – ‘Software on demand’
The difference between buying
CDs and streaming any music
track from the net

11. Is Cloud Computing Safe?
Security
When considering a Cloud Provider - choose a company with a reputation for
excellent physical and network security.
Privacy
Because you’re logging in from various locations – there is
potential for privacy to be compromised. You can ensure
this is minimalized by using authentication techniques like
usernames and strong passwords.
Redundancy
Make sure there are multiple copies of your data to prevent
loss in the case of a single disk or server failure. Microsoft
will have redundancies (different machines, different power
supplies) and will be responsible for the security of the data.
Ownership
Your data is yours! A cloud hosting provider should acknowledge it’s
yours, safeguard it and protect your privacy.

12. Who is using Cloud technology?
53% of organisations polled already
consciously use cloud computing in some
shape or form within their organisation –
a 10% increase in 9 nine months
72% expected their use of Cloud to
increase over the next 12 months
66% stated the benefits and nature of
cloud services could encourage changes
to the way they provide IT
Study conducted by FastHosts

13. Cloud Solutions for Small Businesses
1. Marketing Software (iContact, MailChimp)
2. Social Media Software (Hootsuite, Tweet Adder)
3. Day-to-day operations - Office 365 or Google Apps
for Business
4. CRM: Microsoft Dynamics/Sage ACT
5. Accounts: Free Agent (SBs), Sage Online
6. Project Management: Basecamp (Micro), Liquid
Planner, Microsoft Project
7. Industry Specific: AutoCad WS, Recruit Active etc..
8. All in one: Bizelo Apps. Small Business Apps.
Everything from retail to Education.

14. Is the Cloud right for your business?
Would you like more flexibility?
? Do you want to take your business to the next level?
?
Are you unable to purchase an IT infrastructure or
run your own IT dept?
Is managing your IT a headache?
Are you looking to upgrade or replace current IT set up?
? Do you need a fail-safe email solution?
Do you need back-up and DR solution?
Need a solution which is scalable?

15. Case Study
PR company
– starting from scratch with 7 members of
staff
They had:
7 laptops, 7 SmartPhones and some Cloud-
based Accounting software.
Requirements:
Central Location, Corporate-Level
Emails, Calendars, Communication, Scalabili
ty
Solution!

16. Cost Comparison
Item On Premise Solution (£) Cloud Solution (£)
Server Hardware 800 0
Server Operating System 600 0
Anti-Virus for Server 30 0
Back-Up Device 100 0
Server Set-Up Cost 2500 0
Annual On-going support 1500 120
Office Software 1100 0
Annual Fee for Office 365 0 900
Office 365 set-up 0 1750
TOTAL 6630 2770

17. Free Cloud Solution
DropBox
Will offer you 2 GB free storage, and you can get 250 MB
(up to 8 GB) by recommending. Can sync across PCs/Macs
Sugar Sync
Offers 5 GB free cloud storage
Windows Live SkyDrive
SkyDrive is a cloud-based storage service that lets you store up
to 7GB of data for free.
Hootsuite (free version)
Google Apps
One of the most well-known set of cloud-based applications.
The free version of Google Apps includes Gmail, Google
Calendar, Google Sites, and Google Docs.

18. Free Cloud Solution
YouSendIt
Website that lets you send files that are too big to send as email
attachments. The free Lite version lets you send files as large as
100MB.
Bookwhen
Event booking management software
Skype
Software application that allows users to make voice calls over
the Internet
Bump
Share photos, files and folders – android and iphone
MailChimp (newsletters)
Free version

19. Follow us
To follow us on Twitter
@SupremeIT
To like us on Facebook:
ITSupportWestMidlands
www.supremesystems.co.uk