Email communications have long since revolutionized how companies communicate and work. However, the large volume of data stored and the work produced by email archiving and maintenance is still a significant drain on many companies’ resources. The average worker can spend up to 90 minutes a day managing their inboxes, email archiving, and data management, in addition to in-house IT departments and necessary storage hardware and infrastructure. Therein lays significant amounts of lost productivity and extra expenses.
Cloud computing offers a new paradigm in IT managed services. Instead of the typical IT infrastructure that every company must install in-house, cloud computing provides entire IT systems through remote access. End-users connect to a cloud computing firm’s infrastructure and use those resources on a subscription or per-use basis. This set-up consolidates all IT functions into a single, specialized source that offers services as they are needed.
Cloud computing’s unique capabilities allow for email archiving and data optimization. This leads to better accessibility and storage optimization to improve worker productivity. The turn-key nature of cloud computing radically changes the cost structure of IT resources and lowers overall costs. Like a utility provider, cloud computing firms handle system maintenance, upgrading, and security, freeing clients from the responsibility and associated costs.
Data Optimization for Accessibility, Reliability, and Security
One of the leading causes of lost productivity due to data management and email archiving is that information is typically spread between many sources. Users keep local copies and backups on their hard drives, removable storage holds older data, and the network maintains another source of data. When a user needs to find information, these different sources require a lengthy search process to investigate. Most of these media are also not the most cost-efficient storage structures. For example, flash drive memory is more expensive than hard drive arrays. Finally, with large amounts of data spread, duplication is common, prolonging recovery and backup.
Utilizing cloud computing and IT managed services will eliminate many of the hurdles that hinder data accessibility. Data is consolidated into a single storage architecture with a single access point, searching for much quicker and easier data. Each data source is integrated onto a server, while duplicates are eliminated, and all data is compressed. This scheme reduces the volume of saved material while utilizing high-efficiency storage devices to create an efficient data storage infrastructure for email archiving. Having a highly organized data system facilitates the ease of use for necessary data and easy backups and recovery to ensure data security and reliability.
Cost Prohibitions
Virtual services like cloud computing radically restructure the cost of IT managed services and email archiving. Nearly every typical IT infrastructure implementation requires a large capital outlay with long lead times to set up, optimize a system, and train the end-users. Since cloud computing is a turn-key remote service, there is no capital expense to get started. Moving IT resources from capital expenditures to operating expenses removes many of the barriers to entry that companies face when implementing new technology. This offers a high degree of flexibility for companies by converting a considerable up-front capital expense into regular, manageable operational costs.
Cloud computing firms offer more efficient IT managed services that many other non-IT focused companies. A specialized IT firm can offer a system at a more competitive price than, for example, a manufacturing firm that has to learn IT systems on the fly. Cloud computing resources are dynamically scaled to meet the demand for all customers. This means that systems are never sitting idle and are run at a higher efficiency than a single server would run for a single company’s business hours. The cost savings from these efficiencies are passed onto customers, making cloud computing solutions extremely competitive.
Technology Upgrades and Updates
One of the most considerable hidden costs and hassles for technology solutions is the constant need for upgrades, updates, and security improvements. Even for small systems in small companies, IT departments are required to keep up with this maintenance. Cloud computing offset this burden from companies, keeping their system top-of-the-line with the latest security procedures and best practices. In this way, every customer does not have to re-invent the wheel, speak, and perform the same upgrade procedures. Having the latest practices in place also ensures optimal data security and reliability.
Cloud computing offers a radical new take on many IT services. The decentralized, on-demand resources can serve business needs with little capital investment and short lead times combined with the IT industry’s best practices and efficient hardware solutions.