Written by Karen | 23/06/16 23:00
What have been the top developments in connectivity and business IT over the course of the last 10 years? Improved hardware capability, better connectivity, energy saving revolutions, state of the art and secure data centres? Enterprise spending is progressing, moving from the traditional hardware heavy make-up is expected to grow further as more businesses see the potential in cloud computing. Here at Fluidata, we’re well in motion toward activating our own Cloud offering, backed up by our forward thinking Service Exchange Platform (SEP), connectivity solutions and Wireless Access (Cisco Meraki). Companies whose speciality has been to deliver high capacity hardware-based infrastructures are at a crossroads. Start-ups don’t require expensive equipment to meet their goals, while entrepreneurs are immediately exploring how to invest tactically. The key is having the confidence of knowing they are able to stay connected, store their data and access it on the move with minimal downtime, so focus remains on the customers and creative core values. The thought of having to spend on the maintenance and support on thousands of pounds of equipment and dedicated teams has been gradually diminishing. Fluidata’s Queens’ Award Winning SEP platform allows established and younger ISPs to keep their costs down by taking full advantage of a unique Network built on bringing together over eighteen carriers spanning from the majors to more niche rural specialist suppliers. This ability, being able to focus on finding customers in need of connectivity instead of spending vast resource on building these links and managing them opens huge flexibility for a service provider to maximise the most from their workforce. Some larger companies will take longer to adapt. Their hardware heavy networks have been heavily invested in and still cost large sums to upkeep. Company-owned, robust hardware found in their own offices are feeling the heat of rapid developments going on around them with success being measured on the confidence to take the leap into a new environment. Implementing and Managing a cloud that works as a utility will cost as much as two-thirds lower than managing a traditional network in the long term, managing the right relationships will help drive this – knowing where one companies’ skill set lies and where your own may need support. Some firms have failed to follow suit and will fall behind by focussing on specific areas without other key elements, whether internally or through partnerships with specialists. With the reliance on in-house hardware shifting and the increased need on solid connectivity more important than ever before it is essential for any firm, whether a single site estate agent right through to a multinational telecoms company to embrace a supplier or partner who can deliver this in a consultative manner and with the quality to back their offering. The ability to work from anywhere and access information (private and public) is vital and the move to the cloud means a company can focus resources on how to improve output, instead of discussing how to afford extra physical space and upsurges in energy costs. The long-term benefits of acting now will be invaluable, scalability has never been so accessible and for companies whose bread and butter has been advising on hardware, BYO devices and the management of these, now is the time to embrace a strategic partner who can offer this support and quality of service.