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An Insider's Guide to the SMB Techology Playing Field
- 1. An Insider’s Viewof Changes and Challenges That Affect Small and Medium Businesses By Randy Bridges L5 Consulting
- 2. General Review ofSmall Business Today Evolving Changes and Challenges to SMBs Wrap-Up / Q & A
- 3. Significant changes overpast 5-10 years Banking industry failures and changes Lack of financing options Conversion from Worker to Sole Proprietor Many businesses running from home Changing Tax Code - More Audits and Penalties Creates a “Churn and Burn” domino effect
- 4. SMB purchasing profileshave changed … Few major purchases Very little leasing Budgets on capital options are limited As a result, most companies are … Reliant on older technology and software Only making purchases when necessary
- 5. Major IT industryplayers are changing the way technology is available to SMBs. Good: Greater expansion capabilities Faster response to changing needs Simpler decision making However …
- 6. Who Microsoft, Apple,Dell, Intel, HP, IBM, Comcast, Ora cle, Google, Samsung, etc. Strategy - Market for mindshare; acquire for strategic benefit The Focus is on … Enterprise, Data Center – Their $$ equal growth Consumers – Drive new products into businesses SMB agenda - Push to Cloud
- 7. As SMBs arepushed out, the choice will be: “Long row to hoe” vs. “Easy path to walk” The “long row” will be … Higher costs Fewer choices Incompatibility with today’s choices Need for longer planning cycles ◦ 10-15 years will become the new normal ?
- 8. All Microsoft productsreleased from 2002-2004 will reach “End of Support” in the next 2 years First target date: April 8, 2014 Desktop - Windows XP, Office XP, Office 2003 Servers – Small Business Server/Exchange 2003 Next target date: July 14, 2015 Windows Server 2003
- 9. Desktops – Buynew; use “newer” Technology ◦ Desktop Virtualization solutions Servers – Path not so clear ◦ SBS can go to 2012 Essentials, no email or firewall ◦ No upgrade path - Reinstall is the only choice ◦ Server costs 1.5-2.5x higher than previous models Change to something “Not Microsoft” ◦ Higher support costs, fewer experienced people Go to Cloud Servers, Cloud Desktops ?
- 10. Great confusion about: What it is Why have it How it is different Why it may not always be cheaper
- 11. Any system, applicationor service that is available to … and accessed from … The Internet Requires two pieces ◦ Cloud Apps run on a device or in a browser ◦ Cloud Services run on a server on the Internet
- 12. No up-front capitalexpenses On-demand, flexible and scalable Easier, safer from a Mobility POV Better TCO than “Do It Yourself” Fewer Purchasing requirements Greater simplicity in your business
- 13. Built with mobilityin mind ◦ Anywhere Access with an Internet connection People-Centric, where personalization follows the user Removes processing from business Own devices, rent software and services ◦ By Subscription (Salesforce, GoogleApps, Office365) ◦ By Resource (Virtual Servers, “Cloud Desktops”)
- 14. Also called “HostedVirtual Desktop”, HVDI, “Cloud Computing” Outsourcing your desktop experience, usually to a third-party provider “Desktop Image” as a starting point Add a personalized look and feel Applications are shared among all users Implemented with Cloud Integrator Managed by IT team
- 15. The same businesstools you use today
- 16. Bypass economic challenges(financing, interest rates, energy costs) No up-front CapEx purchases Reduce reliance on physical locations Built-In Disaster Recovery The Big Question: How easy do you want to make the bulk of your IT decisions? ?
- 17. General Review ofSmall Business Today Evolving Changes and Challenges to SMBs ◦ Change - Alliance Among “Big Boys” ◦ Challenge - Microsoft “End of Support” ◦ Change & Challenge - Cloud
- 19. For more information, Emailinfo@L5Consulting.com Or call (510) 764-2369