These resources can help you decide whether and how to move part of your business to the cloud

Small businesses are adopting cloud services in increasing numbers. It’s estimated that small and medium-sized businesses will spend $11 billion worldwide on cloud computing this year. And 39 percent of small businesses will be paying for one or more cloud services within three years; that’s an increase of 34 percent. Moving some of your business processes to the cloud makes sense—both operationally and financially—but it’s a decision that requires careful consideration.

In this latest installment of our Technology Roundup series, we provide resources to help you determine if moving to the cloud is right for your company and how to ensure a successful experience.

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Guest post from our friends at SCORE

W. Kenneth Yancey, Jr., CEO
Ken Yancey is responsible for developing SCORE’s business plan and vision as well as coordinating national program efforts and all the association’s management operations. He also directs the efforts of the headquarters staff to serve and support the 370 chapters across the country.  Prior to joining SCORE in 1993, Ken was Executive Director at the National Business Association. A graduate of Texas A&M University (BBA/Finance), Ken is a recipient of the USA Freedom Corp Award of Excellence, the ASAE Summit Award, and the BSA Goose Creek District Award of Merit.

These days, with technology playing a larger role in small business success, it is important for small business owners to identify cyber security issues and protect themselves from attack.  And that’s exactly what SCORE can do through its free mentoring and resources from in the world of cyber security.

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Tags: cyber security, SCORE, small business, smb

You need to consider more than the purchase price when building the network that runs your business

As a small or mid-size business, you need to make your dollars stretch. But when it comes to investing in the network that runs your business, saving money on the purchase price can cost you more over time—at least 20-35 percent over a three-year timeframe. You need to consider the total cost of ownership (TCO) of the equipment you’re purchasing, including implementation, network downtime, and security breaches.

With a tactical network—one that provides simple connectivity—you could end up spending more money on equipment and services to meet the needs of your business. Also, if your network includes devices from multiple vendors, you may spend more time managing and coordinating those vendors and more money troubleshooting problems rather than focusing on running your business. This loss of time and money increases TCO and decreases the value and return on your technology investment.

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Tags: mid-market, right network, small_business, tco, total cost of ownership

A service plan provides needed technical expertise while saving you money, resources

As a small business owner, you’re faced with many challenges, not the least of which is growing your business when resources and funding are often in short supply. You want to know you’re making wise investments in your business—investments that will improve the operational efficiency of your company. With a support contract, you not only realize the full return on your IT investment but also make your business more efficient.

A support contract can help free up resources so you can focus on running your business—not on running the network that runs your business. A service plan provides support in maintaining the operational health of your network by providing access to technical expertise, resources, and tools. This helps to ensure that your business is running on a reliable, secure network, which increases employee productivity and customer satisfaction.

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Tags: services contract, small_business, support contract, Technical Support

Do you have the need, the need for more speed? Maybe not. Just because your computers include a 1GB card doesn’t mean you need to upgrade your network to accommodate that speed. When designing or upgrading your network, use the 10x rule. Find out more from Jimmy Ray about that rule and other factors you should consider when determining how fast your network needs to be.

Watch the Video!

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Tags: network, network speed, small business