When we first started supporting the company, their entire system was dependent on a single file server running Microsoft Small Business Server 2003. If the server or the internet connection to the office failed then so would the mobile office.
This was a big problem when David was travelling and had no access to vital business information. A decision was made to look into Cloud Technology.
Did we need to replace the ageing file server with a Windows type server? As the company had less than 5 employees we agreed to look at a different model:
1 Email would be transferred to the cloud using a well-known UK based Hosted Exchange Service
2 The file server would be replaced by an intelligent NAS (Network Attached Storage). All users in the office would share files from this device.
3 A Cloud Storage company would be used to synchronise and backup all documents on the NAS to a shared, secure “Cloud Drive”.
4 All anti-virus and Spam filtering of emails would be handled in the cloud.
5 Anti-virus for PCs would be moved to a Cloud based system.
The transformation in efficiency, mobility and happiness was clear.
Gone were the frustrating down periods. No more phone calls and texts from somewhere in the world that email was not working or that an important file was not accessible.
This is a great example of hybrid computing in a small business. Users working in an office with Cloud technology.
• Frustration over loss of email access almost reduced to zero
• Backup no longer dependent on USB drives or tapes!
• Get documents from anywhere with internet
• Anti-virus with the latest updates from the cloud