Cloud services for businesses

In the year since we started deploying cloud services to our customers a lot has changed. Here are some of the highlights:

- Mobile Access. When we started most access to cloud services was from a PC or notebook. Now access is frequently from a tablet or smartphone, so we’ve been spending a lot of time looking at viewers and editing tools that work on those platforms. iFiles for the iPad and iPhone is a great tool. If you need to edit, then QuickOffice works well.

- Data Security. So many sites have been hacked that people are much more concerned about security. We insist on secure access only, and deploy two factor security for those of our customers who wish it on Google Apps.

- Backup. We’ve focused on cloud backup, with local copies. Encryption in transit and at rest are important too. Egnyte is a great partner in this respect delivering all of that, plus mobile file access.

- Touch once, see everywhere. People won’t put up with doing things twice or more. A combination of IMAP and CalDAV let people manage mail and calendars once and be done. Send it from your phone and it’s in your Outlook sent folder. Set an appointment on your iPad browser, and it’s on your Android phone moments later.

- Cloud files, need to edit on your iPad and access later from your PC, that’s OK. Just need a little creativity to set up and it works fine.

- Business Apps. There are so many to choose from. Simple invoicing, accounting, CRM, industry vertical apps, you name them, they are out there. We often help our customers pick the apps that are right for them, then wean them off having us do all the setup!

So if you’re at the beach this summer and a little bored, check out some cloud apps from your iPad. I know I will, I burn easily so any excuse to stay out of the sun!