Finding your place in the cloud
As noted in a previous blog post on cloud computing , the concept of “the cloud” varies by company and service. Cloud computing refers to products or services delivered over the Internet, but there are many choices available for your business. Depending on your business needs, budget and goals, you may decide to put some, all or none of your hardware, software and data in the cloud. Here’s a brief overview of your options.

What’s already there?
With advantages such as cost savings, increased flexibility, scalability and security, most businesses are now using some form of cloud computing – by putting hardware and/or software in the cloud – instead of paying to install, host and support these services on their own.
Even if you haven’t realized it, you’re undoubtedly already using cloud computing in one form or another for your business or personal needs. All of the following, which are “Software-as-a-Service” (or SaaS) applications, are accessed in the cloud:

• Twitter and LinkedIn
• Google (including Maps, Docs, Search, etc.)
• Hotmail, Yahoo and other free email accounts
• Salesforce, Zendesk and Microsoft 365
• Email services like MailChimp and Constant Contact

In fact, almost all software is now, or soon will be, available “in the cloud,” so you can access and use it anywhere (including on mobile devices). With cloud-based apps, you pay for software one time or pay a monthly fee and access it through the Interne Provider. In other words, you can usually pay as you go and you don’t have to be in your office to access it.

Finding what’s right for you: Four types of clouds
Many companies choose to go with a mix of in-house and cloud solutions. Here are some of the main choices available:
Pure Cloud: With pure cloud solutions, all of your software applications, data and network are placed in the cloud and you access them through the Internet. Access is available through devices including desktops, laptops, tablets and smartphones.
Hybrid Cloud: Going “pure cloud” is scary for a lot of people. With a hybrid cloud option, you move some things into the cloud – like email and some apps – and keep the rest of your IT infrastructure in-house. With a hybrid cloud solution, you’ll get some cost benefits while maintaining in-house control and reducing risk for your IT infrastructure.
Point Solutions: Similar to a hybrid option, point solutions allow you to have certain apps (like email) in the cloud while keeping everything else in-house.
Private Cloud: In a public cloud environment (like Amazon’s EC2 or IBM’s Blue Cloud), anyone with an Internet connection and a credit card can get in. Public clouds generally offer shared IT infrastructure plans, so many companies shy away from putting their data in them. Instead, they build an in-house, private cloud that allows them to offer things like remote access for employees.
Still have questions about what cloud options are right for your business? Contact us today!

Protecting Your IT Network from the Inside
Outsourcing your IT support can be a great way to save time, money and hassle at your business. The right IT consultants can help you plan for the future, avoid downtime and solve problems much more quickly than you could by yourself.But regardless of whether you have your own IT staff or outsource your technology services, there are some IT problems that can be avoided altogether. How? By knowing what to look for and setting up clear employee policies about what is and is not allowed when using IT resources at your company.

A common scenario
Often times, our clients face issues with their computer systems because of viruses, spyware, malware, etc., on PCs. These almost always show up when an employee does one of three things:

1. Downloads an infected file from an email or the Internet,
2. Disables the company’s anti-virus software, or
3. Alters or gets around the company’s security settings.

At JMI, we’ve seen client networks get infected many times because an employee downloaded something that seemed harmless, like an email attachment, a free screen saver, MP3 file or game. Unfortunately, these files often contain viruses or spyware, which infect your entire IT system and can lead to on-screen pop-ups, reduced operating speed, or worse.
Yes, an IT consultant can help clean these things up, but why spend time and money on them when you could prevent these problems from happening in the first place?
Regardless of the size of your business, you can take a proactive approach and help your employees understand what is and isn’t safe to download.

The major culprits
Here’s a list of files and programs that you and your employees should not visit, download or click to (contact us for a list of more):

• Free screen savers
• Emoticons
• Games or banner images that get you to click to win prizes
• Music files (e.g., MP3s)
• Online surveys
• Prize drawings that you click to enter
• Unauthorized software downloads

Create a company IT Policy
The best thing you can do to protect yourself and make sure your employees understand what they can and can’t do with your IT infrastructure (including Internet, computers, email, network, etc.), is to put an Acceptable-Use Policy (or Fair Use Policy) in writing.
Your policy should educate employees about the guidelines and rules for your system.  Don’t want your staff using work time to watch cat videos on YouTube or email vacation photos to their friends? Make this clear in your policy.
Communicate what is and is not acceptable, review it with your staff and then have all employees acknowledge in writing that they have read and understood the rules, as well as the penalties for breaking those rules.  Make it clear to employees that your policy is in place to protect everyone because damage to your IT system costs everyone time and money.
Have questions? Need help writing up your policy and making sure that it’s being enforced? Contact JMI Technologies today.

Cloud computing: What is it and what can it do for your business?
You probably hear the term “cloud computing” all the time, but what does it actually mean – and what could it mean for the future of your business?
The term “cloud computing” is actually used in different ways to describe different things, but in almost all cases, cloud computing refers to a product or service that gets delivered over a network, such as the Internet.

Cloud variations

Though you might not realize it, you’re probably already using cloud-based products and services. For instance, some companies use “cloud computing” to describe software products (like saleforce.com), while others use it to describe hardware or services (like Hightail, which offers file storage, sending and sharing).
In fact, so many companies now offer IT services through the Internet that there’s a whole list of acronyms to describe different types of cloud computing, such as SaaS (Software-as-a-Service), NaaS (Network-as-a-Service), and HaaS(Hardware-as-a-Service).
(Want to see a list of the different acronyms being used for cloud service models? Check out this Wikipedia article on cloud computing.)

What are the advantages?

Today, more and more companies are offering their products and services through the cloud. So why should you consider moving some or all of your IT hardware and software there, too? Here are some of the key advantages:

1. Reduced capital investment – Since your IT infrastructure, hardware and software can now be supplied (and supported) over the Internet, you can save money by only getting the pieces you need. Plus, most cloud service providers offer pay-as-you-go plans, which can be a huge help when budgeting for your IT services.
2. Flexibility/mobility – When you have access to your network and your software in the cloud, you don’t have to be in your office to use them. You can connect from anywhere, including other offices, your home, your laptop and phone.  This is a huge advantage if you travel for work, attend a lot of trade shows or have employees working offsite.
3. Major applications are available – Almost all major software applications, or “apps,” are now available through the cloud (and many for your phone as well as your laptop), so chances are good that you’ll be able to get the software you need. For instance, Microsoft, Oracle, SalesForce and Google are just a few of the companies who offer cloud-based software.
4. Scalability – Is your business growing? Do you need to add another employee to your network or another office for your business? With a cloud-based IT infrastructure, scaling up or down is fast and easy.
5. Security – Reputable IT service providers can provide you with a network that’s just as secure as your current system (if not even more so), while still allowing for off-site access by you and your staff.
   Still have questions about how the cloud can improve your IT strategy and how you might make the move? Contact us today!

5 Top Reasons Businesses are Making the Switch to VoIP
VoIP, or “Voice over Internet Protocol,” is becoming an increasingly popular choice for both large and small businesses. Basically, VoIP systems let you use the power of the Internet to make and receive calls.
While the first Internet phone systems might have been unreliable and troublesome, today’s VoIP offerings provide the kind of excellent service, reliability and accessibility businesses demand.
Here are 5 top reasons our customers are switching to VoIP:
1)   Cost savings – This is the main reason most businesses choose to update their old phone systems. There are more providers and more options available now, so you benefit from competitive pricing and a range of price packages. With VoIP, you can choose and pay for a plan that works for you – and you only pay for what you need. Want unlimited long distance calling? Need phone service for five offices in three countries? Not a problem.
2)   Flexibility – With more employees working from home and on the road, businesses need phone systems that allowaccess from remote locations and multiple offices. VoIP lets you easily add another office location to your existing account; plus, you and your employees can access and leave messages on your system securely from smartphones, laptops and tablets.
3)   Features – VoIP allows you to choose from many features that aren’t available with old analog systems (or that you have to pay for separately), such as videoconferencing, online faxing, reporting, call recording and more.
4)   Hosted options – Many providers (including JMI Technologies) now offer “hosted” VoIP options for businesses. This means that 1) Your system is cloud-based, so if a disaster occurs at your office, your phone system will still work, 2) You have help transferring your phone system over to VoIP, and 3) You’ll have ongoing support and upgrades as part of your plan if you experience any problems, need to add more offices or phones, etc.
5)   Quality – Most old phone systems use analog technology, which often results in poor call quality. VOIP uses digital technology, producing consistent, clear sound whether you’re calling a customer across town or dialing an office on the other side of the world.

Have questions about setting up a VoIP system for your company? Contact us!