Flexibility
For many business owners, the benefit of the added flexibility gained once video communications is moved to the cloud can be a very important factor. Previously, with on-premise solutions, as a business' requirements increase, whole new items of infrastructure need to be added to the network. Then, if a business reduces its' requirements i.e. due to streamlined processes, mergers or a reduction in staff for example, the organisation is stuck with extra infrastructure, unused, and the investment is wasted.
But the cloud changes this. The cloud offers flexibility so that an organisation can increase and decrease its' infrastructure capacity as and when needed.
VideoCentric's VideoCloud services offer flexibility in a number of ways. For example, the VideoCloud Virtual Rooms enable organisations to increase and decrease meeting room size (i.e. number or participants, virtually, in the room) as their requirements change. The VideoCloud also offers an MCU overflow service so organisations with a previous on-premise solution can "dip into" the cloud as and when needed, with no need to change their current MCU investment.
For information on storage in the cloud, see "Building a Cloud Enabled Fire Storage Infrastructure" Whitepaper >>
Automatic Updates and Upgrades
Within the cloud, video network infrastructure can be automatically updated and upgraded with the latest technology. No longer does an organisation need to spend 18 days a month maintaining on-premise security solutions - the cloud service provider will regularly update software, hardware and storage, freeing up the organisations IT department for other important tasks.
The VideoCloud will be managed by the UK's most experienced video communications technical team and software and hardware updated on a regular basis, to ensure the most up-to-date technology is available to you.
Operational, not Capital Expense
By moving video communication to the cloud, you as an organisation are effectively renting services on a monthly basis. This is a similar structure to a mobile phone contract, where businesses can avoid large up front capital expenses and absorb costs into a monthly, operational expense, allowing a business to "pay as it goes".
Businesses also save the cost of running and maintaining systems, software and hardware, and costs of updates are absorbed by the cloud service providers.
But there are also other considerations regarding cost that should be made before moving to the cloud. Some organisations may realise more cost savings with an on-premise solution, and often Cloud cost benefits are realised only in the long term. Even though spending on cloud computing topped $45bn in 2012 in the smart to midsized business sector, don't be too quick to jump on the bandwagon before fully recognising the benefits for your organisation.
VideoCentric has a range of cost options for the VideoCloud, including annual, monthly and daily rates, and bundles which include video conferencing endpoints, virtual rooms and maintenance, in one operational cost.
Resiliency, Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity
Protecting data and systems, and being able to continue your organisations processes if disaster strikes is an important part of business continuity planning. To be able to continue your processes, ensuring your employees can communicate with one another is also a very important factor to ensure you can conduct business as usual. And as applications have become resilient, many business continuity plans across the UK and the world have moved into the cloud.
Most reputable cloud based service providers base infrastructure in multiple locations and data centres, ensuring full redundancy and fall over if and when disaster strikes. Having your information and communications based in the cloud also ensures that your organisation has full access to what it needs, even if work locations are changed, employees are required to work from home or other unforseeable circumstances occur.
The VideoCloud enables your communications to continue smoothly and efficiently to ensure that there is no need to recover - you can continue your processes without your customers and suppliers noticing dramatic changes.
How are other organisations using the cloud for disaster recovery?
Anyone, Anywhere, Anytime.
The beauty of the internet means anyone can work from anywhere, at anytime. It has been proven that being able to work from home, or on the move increases employee retention and positively effects productivity across the workforce. And even if only some staff can telework, an enterprise still benefits: a US Health organisation, with 5% of its staff teleworking has gained $6million in one year. But without effective tools for collaboration and communication, there are still areas of work that need to be done face-to-face.
The VideoCloud brings employees together, wherever they are located. With Virtual Rooms that enable access from Skype, Google and even just with a browser and webcam, and with data collaboration tools integrated into the solution, the positives of working from your chosen location, at your chosen time, can far outweigh the negatives. See the 6 A's of the VideoCloud >>
Enabling employees to telework is becoming a must for all organisations wishing to move with the times and increase productivity and creativity whilst saving money. And it keeps employees happy too! This whitepaper discusses the Art of Teleworking from Polycom >>
Security
Imagine how much data is lost every year when laptops, tablets and mobile phones are stolen. Cybercribe is becoming one of the biggest worries for organisations and employees storing all the business information on an "easy to lose" device means it has become common, with the rise in "Bring Your Own Device" (BYOD) for critical data to be stolen and maliciously used.
The cloud has often been seen as less secure than an on-premise solution but, especially for small businesses who may not have the resources for high levels of security, moving to the cloud can have very high security benefits. With data centres meeting high security requirements such as being ISO 27001 certified, and huge investments made into encryption and securing data, the cloud can often be much more secure than what most organisations have in place today.
What are cloud services? For more information, go to our What Are Cloud Services page >>
