What is the deal with “the Cloud?”
Some companies are still very weary when it comes to using Cloud-based software. Several businesses are still comfortable using MS Exchange or some other form of in-house server. This may seem logical for a big business with a bulky budget that can afford the cost of maintaining an IT infrastructure, but what about a small business? How does a small business afford a decent business web mail, calendaring system, or client relationship management software? Well the answer is simple; the Cloud.
Ten years ago the word “Cloud” was in most cases used to describe a fuzzy object in the sky, but lately it’s used to describe software hosted on the Internet. It may come as a surprise to some but Cloud software has been around for well over a decade. How do we know? We know that because companies like InfoStreet Inc., have been around for over 16 years providing Cloud Apps to thousands of users. One company that has benefited greatly from InfoStreet’s Cloud technology is Keys2Day.
How moving to the Cloud fixed one real estate company’s problem
Keys2Day , a real estate team located in Baltimore, Maryland, was struggling with a complicated IT setup. They were using multiple computers, all of which were configured differently. Heritage Web Solutions (Now HIT Web Design) was serving as their email and website host. Unfortunately, Heritage made business difficult with email servers that continually went down and with an underperforming website, prompting Keys2Day to move all of their business to other providers. They started with their website, which they moved to BirdView, a company with an extensive background in real estate lead generation. However, as Syreeta Saunders-Keys, owner of Keys2Day laments, “We did not want to have our website and mail providers linked ever again because Heritage made moving anything painful.” Keys2Day turned to InfoStreet Inc. for their move to the Cloud.
InfoStreet quickly deployed an email system for Keys2Day and took over dialogue with both Bridview and Heritage to simplify the transition process.
Originally Keys2Day came to InfoStreet to solve an email problem, but they ended up deploying a full
intranet system with apps like calendar, file sharing, and more. “We all come from big business backgrounds so we easily understood the value of having a central company environment where we can find everything in one place. We needed an intranet and InfoStreet delivered,” said Jeanine Whitehead, a member of the Keys2Day team.
Additionally, because InfoStreet only provides Cloud software, all of Keys2Day’s files and information is stored safely in the Cloud making running their business that much easier.rnTyrone Keys, Head of IT for the members of the Keys2Day team, sums up the transition. “In the end, InfoStreet made sense of our IT and just made things simple. They are a vital partner for us.”
What does this mean for my business?
Ultimately, what moving to the Cloud can give a small business is freedom, security, and major savings. Your company will be freed from a dependence on computer software. You can access all of your Cloud apps from any computer with a Web browser and Intranet Connection. All of your files will be hosted securely in the Cloud, meaning that should disaster strike a computer device, everything will remain safe. Lastly, you will never have to pay for software licensing or maintenance costs for your Cloud software. When you move to the Cloud, the Cloud app provider takes care of everything for you.
Every successful small business should have some form of intranet system to move them forward. The Cloud could be that move.