The new buzzword around technology today is Cloud Computing. We would like to give you our simple definition and why we feel everyone should consider Cloud computing. The term Cloud is simply a metaphor for the Internet and is a general term for anything that involves delivering hosted services via the Internet. With Cloud computing, you are no longer restricted to one’s own isolated infrastructure resources. With Cloud computing, the infrastructure is dynamically scalable and virtualized to provide everything one needs to run their business. One no longer needs to have knowledge of, expertise in, investment in or control over the technology infrastructure as it now resides in the "cloud" and is fully managed and supported by ERGOS. The Cloud is also referred to in the terms Infrastructure as a service (IaaS), Platform as a service (PaaS), and Software as a service (SaaS). With ERGOS’ Cloud offering, we are providing all of these in one bundled solution.
You may now be asking, OK we know what it is by definition, but so what? We will now try to explain in layman’s terms why it is of such a great benefit to our clients in the Small and Medium sized (SMB) business segment. There are three distinct advantages of Cloud computing today. They are business continuity and disaster recovery, financial and flexibility.
With all systems hosted in a Tier 3 data center, one no longer has to worry about redundant power and backup power for you’re their computer systems. Nor do they have to worry about fire suppression systems or redundant internet connections. All of this is even compounded even further if remote offices are included in the equation that connect to the main office. If the primary site goes down for any reason, so do all of the remote sites. With ERGOS’ Cloud, all of this burden is lifted. Our systems are hosted at 1301 Fannin, a world class data center built to operate in the most grueling of conditions. During Houston’s most recent and catastrophic disaster, Hurricane Ike, 1301 Fannin never even had to go to backup power. Sitting directly on the power grid, and built to withstand 200 mph winds, Ike was no match for this super structure.
The mere fact that all of the systems are redundant, virtualized and residing in a World Class data center form a solid foundation and peace-of-mind around the security of your data and continuity of operations. To enhance this further, all of the data is backed up locally and to two disparate data centers across the country. The only disaster we are aware of today that we feel could disrupt service for an extended time is some type of nuclear war. At that point, we will all have bigger worries in front of us, but we will be able to recover!
The next reason to consider the Cloud is financial. Other than some minor start up costs, one no longer needs to invest a substantial amount of capital in servers, software and infrastructure. Since all of the systems are scalable and virtual, the investment in infrastructure is no longer required and all expenses become operational in nature. This is now a utility that is paid for on a per user or system basis as needed and as used. The other exciting thing is when it comes to server software and most of your common applications like Microsoft Office. One no longer has a large outlay of cash when a new version of the software is introduced. This is included in the operational expense and many upgrades in software can be completed for a nominal expense. This is all compounded when satellite offices are a part of the equation and enhanced continuity of operations is required as well as greater stability and speed in internet charges.
And lastly is flexibility. One no longer requires expensive real estate to house the computer systems. All one needs to be 100% operational is access to the Internet. Regardless of whether one is home, at work or across the world, with Internet access you have complete access to state-of-the-art systems. With server virtualization, adding computing power or installing additional servers takes minutes to hours, not days and weeks waiting on new equipment to be delivered. New users can easily be added or deleted to the systems and they are fully supported and monitored by ERGOS’ world class network operations and call center. With over 35 engineers and a staff of over 50 employees, ERGOS can scale your support and systems to grow as you grow. With the systems hosted in a Tier 1 data center, and ERGOS’ network operations and LIVE Desk support is a phone call away. Our main headquarters are in a hurricane proof facility at 3831 Golf Drive that has a poured slab concrete roof, natural gas generator and wired and wireless Internet allowing the back-office operations to be fully functional in case of inclement weather.
For those companies that are sick and tired of being in the IT business, spending lots of money on infrastructure and managing IT personnel, the ERGOS’ Cloud is a tremendous solution providing peace-or-mind, creating a stable, manageable IT expense and providing basically unlimited flexibility.
For more information, contact cloudsales@ERGOS.com.