Cloud computing solutions can add tremendous value to your small business. Many times disaster strikes when devices are lost during travel or servers go down. It is difficult to gauge whether or not you will be able to access or recover your company data under such circumstances. Whether you’ve just spilled a morning coffee or lost your work tablet all together, cloud computing solutions will always have your data stored and accessible 24/7. Cloud services can be seen as external hard drives that do not require hardware. Here are the top 5 cloud computing solutions that just might be your winning ticket to finding higher efficiency and secure data for your small business:
1. CrashPlan combines online storage with complete backup services. The service backs up changed information as often as every minute and continues to watch for changes to data in real time. After the first backup completes, CrashPlan checks for data that is already backed up and ignores it, making subsequent backups much smaller because they contain only new or changed information. It also offers on-the-go secure file access from any mobile device, including iOS, Android and Windows Phone. Downloaded files are instantly available on a user’s mobile device, even when they’re offline. CrashPlan also features customer versioning, an online management console, a desktop application and high-level security protection. The system offers plans for individuals, businesses and large enterprises.
2. Carbonite keeps small businesses and home offices running smoothly. The company offers a comprehensive suite of affordable services for data protection, recovery and anytime, anywhere accessibility. The services include automatic backup, easy restore capabilities, anytime, anywhere access and high levels of security. The files it can store include documents, spreadsheets, emails, point-of-sale files, pictures and graphics, videos, financial and accounting files and customer relationship management files. Carbonite offers plans for individuals, businesses and businesses with server needs. Plans range from $59 to $799 a year.
3. BlueJeans is a cloud based video conferencing platform that runs smoothly from any location and on most devices as long as you have internet connection. Everything from slides to trailers to budget tracking spreadsheets with all participants in your meeting can be easily shared. You can also invite up to 100 people from anywhere in the world to connect. The BlueJeans Network makes it easy to host high quality video meetings connecting many participants, using many different devices, supporting many combinations of business and consumer video conferencing. Participants can join your video conference using room systems like Polycom, Cisco, and LifeSize or from desktop or mobile devices using Skype, Microsoft Lync or Google Hangouts. It is intended for businesses in need of the combination of high quality video, high reliability, broad reach to participants all over the world, and unmatched interoperability to connect any combination of mobile, desktop, and conference room systems from multiple vendors and pricing scheme is more complex depending on your business needs.
4. Mankayia offers free, unlimited online storage with file-sharing features, media streaming, mobile access and a drag-and-drop interface. The service is Web-based, not software-based, so there is no limit on how many computers or devices you connect to the service at the same time. In addition to its free plan, Mankayia also offers a Pro Plan for $15 a month. While both plans offer unlimited storage, there are some limitations to the free plan, such as file size and file sharing. The Pro Plan removes file size limits; adds a Java-based uploader that can handle thousands of files at a time; and offers shared work spaces for two-way file sharing and mini sites for folder sharing.
5. Copy offers a cloud storage solution that’s both cheap and secure. Users can share accounts amongst multiple users as well as toggle between personal and company accounts using the same login. Its features include SignNow integration for fast and easy eSignatures, enterprise-class security that doesn’t rely on third parties and no size limits or viewing restrictions. Copy members can save, access and share files via the Copy desktop and mobile apps, which are available for Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android and Windows Phone. If you only need to share a file or two, you can also drag and drop individual files directly into the Copy.com home page; you’ll get a unique, secure link to the file and built-in share options via Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and email — no registration required. Users who sign up get 15GB of free cloud storage. Copy for Companies also lets small teams start free with as much space as they need for up to five accounts. Paid plans start at $79 a month for up to 10 accounts.
Andre Smith is an Internet, Marketing and E-Commerce specialist with several years of experience in the industry. He has watched as the world of online business has grown and adapted to new technologies, and he has made it his mission to help keep businesses informed and up to date.
