Cloud

When I started in tech, the world was MS-DOS based, with Windows 3.11 for Workgroups if you were lucky. Word Perfect ruled the typing pool and dot matrix line printers sang in the background. There was no plug and play. There was config.sys and autoexec.bat. Token ring and IPX/SPX.

I promise I won’t tell you to get off my lawn.

And then, our tech world changed. Windows NT brought with it the registry. TCP/IP. Ethernet. Active Directory. So many new things to learn that fundamentally changed our technology infrastructure.

For most small businesses reading this article, I�ve lost them with the headline. A Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB) is likely to be something they�ve never heard of, let alone considered. Yet more small businesses are becoming Cloud-friendly, especially with their adoption of Software as a Service applications. Funny thing is, some security-focused IT professionals would never consider using Cloud services without a CASB.

I had the pleasure of spending some time with a company called Forcepoint, in Austin, Texas, as a Tech Field Day delegate. David Coffey (VP Research & Development) says �How do you secure things that you don�t own or manage?� IT Pros understand that challenge. Traditionally we�ve focused on securing the devices that you use and the networks that you access. We�ve put firewalls between your PC and the Internet and we�ve prevented you from using random USB sticks. Today�s challenge for IT is ensuring security from your iPad in an airport lounge, to corporate data in the Cloud.

After the announcement of Microsoft 365, I�d pushed it into the �look at this�later� pile. A recent Microsoft presentation at a reseller event�flicked the switch for me on how Microsoft 365 Business�could really help SMBs who are still stuck on Windows 7 or Windows 8, and how the device management can help with Macs, Android and iOS.

I blogged about my thoughts for 24�7 IT Connection:�https://24x7itconnection.com/2017/10/17/microsofts-strong-smb-story-with-microsoft-365-business/

If you�re looking for more technical information on Microsoft 365, here are blogs from some fellow Microsoft MVPs. If you have any other good resources, feel free to leave them in the comments:

For small businesses, Cloud solutions seem to deliver innovation, productivity and profitability with ease.

You don’t have to sit around and wait for the “I.T. guy” to install something on a server, then install something else on your computer. It’s all enabled by just signing up to a service in your web browser and entering your credit card number. The secure access, reliability and backups are all handled behind the scenes.

I had the pleasure of showing a team the features of their new CRM software. Have I lost you yet with how boring that sentence is? Fortunately the reality was far from boring.

To me�� the CRM system is a plugin to a Joomla website. There are some bits I can configure & some bits I can�t (especially as I�m not the Joomla site admin nor do I ever ever want to be.
To the business owner�� the system means no more monthly fees to a Cloud CRM system. This one off purchase will last her for at least 3 years and will handle the growth she is expecting. It�s also one place to see how her sales pipeline is looking & to get instant access to the conversations had with & information that�s been provided to her customers & prospective customers.
To the team members�� this is a �central console�, one place to get a picture of what they have on the go and what others are working on too.

This isn�t intended as a comprehensive argument on how to evaluate if Cloud Computing is right for you or not. �I�ve written it to show where we use Cloud Computing in our own business, and where we don�t. �As most of my readers aren�t IT Providers, you may find something relevant in this, or you may not. �But I�m a firm believer in recommending the best solution to a client for their individual needs, so our own decision on Cloud Computing has been based on our current business needs.