Use Cloud Computing To Keep Up And Stay Protected

Here at Clockwork PC our goal is to help smaller businesses enjoy the benefits of computing to the full. In the past, certain capabilities were only available to companies with a sizable IT infrastructure, but as this article indicates, cloud computing is now something that even individuals should consider.

What Cloud Computing Means For the Real World - PCWorld Business Center

To be clear, there are different forms of cloud computing, and some of them do require an entire IT department to maintain. However, if you use Gmail or Hotmail, use Google Docs, or have a Dropbox account, then you are already using cloud computing.

Why do we use this web-based services? I suggest the following:

Firstly, convenience.

Secondly, security.

Now the convenience of having access to your data from anywhere in the world is impossible to argue against. Shared documents, email on the go, remote access to your files are becoming commonplace in all but the most conservative of work places because it just makes sense.

Against this convenience some argue, very importantly, that this poses a risk to the security of your data. What if the server that your documents live gets cracked? What if it stops working? What if you lose your password?

These are all serious questions and the only responsible answer is to have another layer of back-up and security, in the form of a protected local copy. For example, if you use Gmail, you can keep a local copy of your email on a computer with Mozilla Thunderbird installed. That way you can enjoy the great advantages of Gmail, and should it become inaccessible to you one day, you would have a local copy of all your correspondence, which you could synchronise with a new account if need be.

At Clockwork PC we specialise in providing these kinds of commonsense, low-cost solutions to smaller businesses so that you can enjoy the benefits of an IT department without the costs.