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29 Articles

Cloud Services for SMB/SME

GOOD FOR BUSINESS Cloud-based tools and services that are best suited for SMB/SMEs are quite varied, depending on the type of business you run. Here then are ten examples of what’s on offer. COMMUNICATIONS Voice over IP (VoIP), video conferencing, email marketing and social media engagement, are an essential part of the modern business. You’re no longer limited to word of mouth within the town in which you operate, with cloud communications services you’re a part of the global market. E-COMMERCE A web-based storefront is a powerful element of the modern business, but it needs to be flexible enough to work for you and what you’re selling. Cloud computing services that cater for e-Commerce solutions are ideal in helping you win more custom and gain ground in an ever-competitive market…

Cloud Services for SMB/SME

Team Collaboration Cloud Examples

WORKING TOGETHER There are countless cloud collaboration services available, which can be quite bewildering. Here are ten proven business solutions to help you fine-tune your choice of provider. DROPBOX BUSINESS One of the more popular cloud collaborations services available for businesses is from Dropbox. With companies such as National Geographic, University of Cambridge, AA and more, the service is designed to scale and grow as your collaboration with others does. CITRIX SHAREFILE Citrix has a long history of working with collaboration services. The company’s newest cloud-based resource is ShareFile, which provides a simple, secure way to collaborate with teams from around the world. HUDDLE Huddle offers a secure cloud collaboration service for customers such as the Department for Work and Pensions, the NHS, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.…

Team Collaboration Cloud Examples

Cloud eCommerce Examples

CLOUD SALES Businesses need to consider many aspects when it comes to choosing the eCommerce platform that best suits their needs. Out of the many, here are ten excellent examples to investigate. SHOPIFY Hailed as one of the best eCommerce cloud services available, Shopify covers pretty much every aspect of sales for your business. It’s easy to use, has a vast range of services, and can be customised for your company. BIGCOMMERCE Another of the top names in e-Commerce cloud computing is BigCommerce, a company that prides itself on handling huge volumes and more web traffic. With an average uptime of 99.99%, BigCommerce is an ideal solution for those businesses that can see significant growth in their sector for the future. YAHOO AABACO SMALL BUSINESS Using Yahoo! as an e-Commerce…

Cloud eCommerce Examples

Cloud Accounting Examples

CLOUD FINANCIALS A typical cloud accounting service offers invoicing, banking, purchasing, expenses, and tax management, with the ability to integrate add-ons such as PayPal. CLEARBOOKS ClearBooks is an excellent start when researching cloud accounting for your business. With it, you can create customisable invoices, set automatic payment reminders, and schedule recurring invoices. It’s also excellent for keeping up with your tax returns and managing your banking. XERO Xero allows online invoicing, a mobile app, stock management, payroll management and bank reconciliation. It can handle multiple currencies, has a significant level of security, and customisable reporting. In short, it’s considered one of the best online accounting solutions available. FRESHBOOKS According to FreshBooks, you can save 192 hours a year just by using its software. Hailed as one of the easiest to…

Cloud Accounting Examples

Data Management Cloud Examples

DATA CLOUDS Cloud storage can greatly improve a business’s operation by offering unlimited access to its data, from anywhere and at any time. There are countless services available, so here are ten for your consideration. DROPBOX The business side of Dropbox is one of the top, cloud storage choices for the SMB user. It’s priced competitively, offers storage, centralised administration and better management of your online documents. SUGARSYNC SugarSync has been a great value cloud storage provider for many years. The company offers a range of flexible features and solutions for the end-user, along with the usual collaboration, syncing across devices and operating systems, and disaster recovery. BOX Box offers the SMB user a great cloud storage platform. Collaboration, file sharing, security, content management and mobility are all catered for…

Data Management Cloud Examples

Email Providers for SMBs

CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF EMAIL The importance of finding a good cloud-based email provider goes without saying. There are plenty of services to research before choosing, which can be time-consuming. Here’s ten to help start you off. GSUITE Google’s Gmail for business is an obvious first choice for most small business users; there’s a good chance you and your workforce already use the personal version. Gmail for business offers 30GB of storage, compatibility with MS Outlook, and a personalised email address for your company. MICROSOFT EXCHANGE ONLINE The competitively priced Microsoft Exchange Online offers the business user premier, disaster recovery solutions, global server coverage, anti-spam and anti-malware filtering, and a range of plans from which to choose. It’s easy to use, familiar with its users, and easy to maintain…

Email Providers for SMBs

Green Cloud Providers

GOING GREEN Fewer machines, efficient climate control, reuse of generated heat, and many more environmental benefits can be delivered from cloud computing. Here are ten cloud providers who are ‘going green’. EVRY CLOUD SERVICES Based across Scandinavia, this cloud hosting company offers many excellent services through its green datacentres. Powered by hydropower and operating in accordance with ISO 14001 Environmental Standard Guidelines, this Nordic datacentre is one of the greenest in the world. NETAPP Headquartered in California and ranked in the Fortune 500, NetApp was founded in 1992 and is a cloud data services and data management company. It recently purchased the Icelandic cloud data company GreenQloud, and as such inherited GreenQloud’s excellent environmental processes. Further to this, NetApp conforms to ISO 14001:2015, is Energy Star recognised, and holds LEEED…

Green Cloud Providers

Public Cloud Benefits

THE PUBLIC CLOUD So, what are the benefits of using Public cloud computing over traditional setups, private or hybrid clouds? Let’s have a look at what the public cloud model has to offer the SMB user. PAY AS YOU GO One of the main benefits of the public cloud is that it’s decidedly cheaper to set up than dedicated, in-house hardware, software and everything else. Public cloud servers and space is rented, and therefore you’ll only pay for what you use. Plus the initial investment is very low, even zero in some examples. CHEAPER ENERGY COSTS To expand the Pay as You Go benefit, if you’re considering a traditionally installed server, with other hardware, then you’ll also need to factor in climate control and upkeep for that server, and possibly…

Public Cloud Benefits

Private Cloud Benefits

THE PRIVATE CLOUD While public and private clouds share many benefits, opting for a private cloud can yield better results for a business – depending on what the business wants from its cloud service. CONTROL A private cloud setup gives more control to the business over the cloud’s servers and configurations. In a private cloud, the servers are dedicated to the business therefore you can tailor it to your own company specifications. IMPROVED SECURITY Sensitive data such as banking, medical or other confidential material, requires a higher level of security than that of so-called non sensitive data. Using a private cloud solution means that your company, and your company alone, has access to your data. REDUNDANCY More often than not, a private cloud setup factors in better redundancy than that…

Private Cloud Benefits

Hybrid Cloud Benefits

THE HYBRID CLOUD An ideal hybrid cloud setup allows a business to move its workloads between in-house, private and public clouds seamlessly; giving the business a host of extra benefits. WORKLOAD FLEXIBILITY Without a doubt, the greatest benefit a hybrid setup offers is the flexibility of an in-house server setup while being able to move into private and public cloud setups. Information, according to its sensitivity, for example, can be arranged between the three models ensuring greater security. BIG DATA A business that uses Big Data – a term that describes voluminous amounts of data mined for information collectively – can utilise a hybrid cloud approach to store the vast data collection locally, while simultaneously running cloud-based analytics in the cloud. ABSOLUTE CUSTOMISATION The hybrid cloud approach also ensures that…

Hybrid Cloud Benefits

Why Would You Consider a Do It Yourself Cloud?

YOUR VERY OWN CLOUD In such circumstances, having your own cloud is preferable to that of using one of the current solutions. A home user, for example, can set up their own cloud with the computer hardware they already own; making it available for friends and family to access, or just for their own private use. Likewise, a business can opt for their own cloud, again using available computer hardware connected to the company’s router and providing as much storage as needed for home workers, or those on the road. Taking a few points into consideration here, let’s see what advantages and disadvantages a DIY cloud can offer both the home and SMB user: SECURITY A DIY cloud may not have the backing of the likes of Google; however, it…

Why Would You Consider a Do It Yourself Cloud?

Setting Up Your Own Cloud

If you’re interested in making a cloud storage solution at home, or the office, then you’ll need to factor in a few elements first. Some work better than others; some can be quite tedious to set up and get going, whereas others are really very simple. Either way, here are some examples of what you’ll need to begin. COMPUTER A fairly obvious component, in this case. The computer itself doesn’t need to be the most powerful PC available, so don’t go spending thousands on a new PC for a cloud at-home project. Nevertheless, you are going to need a few extra components to make it work better. STORAGE Inside the computer, you’re going to need ample storage for you, and your friends and family if you want, to which content…

Setting Up Your Own Cloud

Virtualisation for the Consumer

DESKTOP ANYWHERE What are the advantages of setting up or using a cloud-based virtual desktop, then? As it happens, here are ten examples of where a VDI will help you out. RUN LEGACY PROGRAMS One of the advantages of running a virtual desktop in the cloud, is the ability to execute old programs and apps in the operating system environment for which they were designed. For example, running a DOS 6.22, or Windows 95 virtual desktop in the cloud allows you to play all those DOS classic games and programs. VIRUS TESTING If you think a downloaded file from a website may contain a virus, you can safely experiment with it in a virtual desktop in the cloud. This way your actual PC isn’t going to be infected, and, thanks…

Virtualisation for the Consumer

Virtualisation for SMB/SME Users

DESKTOP AS A SERVICE For business, many of the benefits of virtualisation in the cloud cross over with those of the home user; however, for a business, those benefits can yield great advantages over the competition. REMOTE WORKING Remote workers can help make substantial savings across the entire business. You don’t need to provide office space, or the power costs therein, and you can reduce software and hardware costs. Aside from these savings, your workers can access their desktops from anywhere in the world. EASIER SUPPORT Using a virtual desktop hosting service ensures that you receive the highest possible support, 24/7, without the need to have an extensive in-house IT team. Any issues with the virtual desktop setups are quickly resolved, and broken images easily replaced with a previous snapshot.…

Virtualisation for SMB/SME Users

Using a NAS Drive as a Cloud Server

NAS BENEFITS NAS technology has come a long way in the last few years. No longer the monolithic boxes dominating the room, in fact, they’re now quite discreet, media-type installations hidden away in the corner of a living room or office. They are remarkably powerful these days too. With specifications that surpass those of a top of the range PC from not so long ago, a modern NAS is a far more capable ‘computer’ than some of the PCs found on desks. This improved processing power allows more services to be run simultaneously, and with support for more users. In terms of service and software, many modern NAS units run a customised version of Linux, which serves as the backbone to their file and media sharing capabilities. There’s also a…

Using a NAS Drive as a Cloud Server

How to Set Up a Cloud Solution Using a Home NAS

CREATING YOUR CLOUD We’ve pre-fitted the two IronWolf drives, and run through the initial setup process. Note: changes to NAS firmware and the OS can result in different screens from shown below. STEP 1 First we need to install the Cloud Station Server from the Package Center, located on the DSM desktop. In the Package Center, you’ll find the Cloud Station Server app in the Business section. Click on Install and agree to allow the new app to install on your Synology NAS. STEP 2 Open the Control Panel from the DSM desktop, and scroll down the side panel until you come to QuickConnect. Click the QuickConnect link, and in the right-hand main pane, tick the Enable QuickConnect box. You’ll need to enter your email and sign up for a…

How to Set Up a Cloud Solution Using a Home NAS

How to Set Up a Cloud Solution Using a Business NAS

CREATING YOUR CLOUD The Buffalo TeraStation we’re using is updated to the latest firmware and has cycled through the initial set up process. Note: Changes to models can alter the screenshots and steps below. STEP 1 Log in to the Buffalo TeraStation admin page. When loaded, click on the File Sharing link in the left-hand sidebar, followed by the link button to the far right of the Web Access entry. Enable HTTPS/SSL Encryption, enable Access via BuffaloNAS.com, click the Generate Random Key button, and enter a name for the cloud server in the BuffaloNAS.com Name box. STEP 2 Once you’ve named the cloud server, click OK to save the details. Still in the File Sharing section, click on the Folder Setup link button, located at the top of the screen.…

How to Set Up a Cloud Solution Using a Business NAS

SAFE CLOUDS Ensuring Cyber security is often endeavoured by having multiple layers of security in place. Here then are ten golden rules for cloud security. RULE 1 Always use a cloud service that offers full encryption for your data. Ideally, the cloud service should offer 256-bit AES military-grade encryption across all its communications and storage. This way, it’s going to be exceedingly difficult for a hacker to gain entry through brute force alone. RULE 2 Encrypting your data before uploading it to a cloud service is a highly sensible idea. Providing you take steps to ensure the encryption keys are safe then, should someone ever gain entry to your account, all your data appears as a jumble of characters. RULE 3 If you’re going to use a cloud service to…

Cloud Technologies: Education in the Cloud

The education in the cloud concept takes on many forms. Cloud technologies are used in a variety of ways throughout the education sector; from enrolling students, to providing course materials, aiding teachers in the delivery of their lessons, and even teaching entire lessons remotely over the cloud. There’s a lot the education sector can get from using cloud resources, so it seems strange that it’s taken so long to get to this point. CLOUD IN SCHOOL One of the main reasons why education is moving exceedingly slowly into the cloud is thanks to the government, in the UK at least. The formation of academies in 2000, the brainchild of former UK Prime Minister, Tony Blair, was to help drive up standards in schools where local authorities were struggling. However, that…

Cloud Technologies: Education in the Cloud

Where Next for the Cloud?

RISE OF THE MACHINES Big Data, AI, Machine Learning, cavernous datacentres and quantum computing are all terms bandied about when it comes to discussing the future of the cloud. In truth, no one really knows which direction cloud technologies will take over the next five to ten years. However, it’s generally agreed that the aforementioned terms will play a big role in defining what the future of the cloud will look like. Cloud technologies are still in their infancy, in technical terms at least. As consumers, we’ve only just started to use the cloud for everyday tasks. Equate to physical technology, and we’ve just reached the point in the early ‘80s when the home computer became accessible and popular. While it’s a little disconcerting to think that we’re putting our…

Where Next for the Cloud?

Cloud Technologies: Gaming in the Cloud

Sony, Nintendo, Amazon, Electronic Arts, NVIDIA and Microsoft; each of these companies must look to the future of gaming in the cloud, and change the way that games are played, distributed, sold and owned. Google’s Stadia project launched in November 2019, and, while the hype behind it was reaching a fever pitch, the actual launch was something of a damp squib. A catalogue of issues, mostly due to latency issues, meant the company’s first foray into gaming in the cloud didn’t quite rock the boat as the Google team had hoped. Not that the Stadia is a bad idea, on paper it’s great. Create a device that’s capable of delivering games as a service that can be played on any medium, be that a PC, tablet, phone or even just…

Cloud Technologies: Gaming in the Cloud

Glossary of Cloud Terms

CLEAR SKIES AHEAD Here’s a quick list of some of the terms you’re likely to come across as you explore cloud technologies further. Needless to say, the industry loves its terminology, so expect many more as you delve deeper into this sphere. AGILITY Refers to the faster implementation of IT within a company, specifically cloud implementation; Often referenced when a company moves from in-house to cloud technologies particularly quickly. AIRFRAME An open-source cloud platform that targets businesses in the thinking stage of adopting a private cloud service model. BACKUP AS A SERVICE Another form of online mass storage; whereby a company can effectively back up its entire system’s data to the cloud. This service is of interest to audits, as off-site backups are secure and safe from accidental damage. BPaaS…

Glossary of Cloud Terms

Google Cloud to Home

Behind the pleasingly aesthetic speakers, Nest Wi-Fi, Hubs, Home and Chromecast devices lies the heart of the Google cloud services; in particular, the Google Assistant. This artificial intelligence-powered virtual assistant was developed by the AI teams at Google and released in 2016. It’s written in C++ but utilises Python libraries to help understand the communications between people and the actions that are required of it. CThe AI side of things, alongside the wealth of information that’s incorporated into the Google Assistant, are all held within the labyrinthine corridors of the many Google data centres scattered around the world. Its mission is to “Create a more helpful Google for you”, and as such is designed to interact with all of Google’s services, as well as third party services and the ever-growing…

Google Cloud to Home

The Google Home Collection

Google Home Max Key Features: Meet Google Home Max, he helps you to hear every note as the artist intended and feel every beat with heart pounding bass. It’s the ultimate speaker, made for your music. The advanced hardware delivers deep bass and crisp treble in stunning stereo sound. It analyses, tunes and updates itself automatically, so all you need to do is listen. The far-field voice control allows Max to hear you across the room, even while the music’s playing. Final Thoughts: The best audio-only based product in the Google Home range. Dimensions • Width: 13.2” (336.6 mm)• Height: 7.4” (190.0 mm)• Depth: 154.4 mm• Power cable: 2 m Weight • 11.7 lbs (5,300 g) Colours • Chalk, Charcoal Materials • Acoustically transparent fabric• Rigid polycarbonate housing• Silicone base…

The Google Home Collection

Google Home First Time Setup

Setting Up Google Home All of the setup for your Google Home speaker is done through the Google Home app for Android. Use this app for future access and changes to the settings. Step 1 ❱ Plug in your Google Home device and wait for the audio cue to show it is ready to be set up. Make sure that the switch that controls the microphone is set to“On”. If you accidentally turn the microphone off on your speaker, the device will inform you accordingly. Step 2 ❱ Currently, Google Home is only available for Android devices, and most have it pre-installed. If you don’t already have it, find the app on the Google Play store, download and install it on your mobile device (phone or tablet). Once installed, open…

Google Home First Time Setup

Play Music on Google Home

Choosing Music Services You can connect your speaker to a great variety of different music services, from Google Play Music to Spotify and Deezer, which will give you access to millions of songs. Step 1 ❱ You will have been asked to choose a music service during the setup of the Google home speaker, but if you skipped this step, or want to add more, you can add services at any time. Open the Google Home app on your Android device and tap the +Add button on the Home tab. Then tap Music and audio. Step 2 ❱ If you have a Google Play Music or YouTube Red account (connected to the current Google account), these services will be linked automatically. To link one of the other music services, tap…

Play Music on Google Home

Using Google Home Routines

Create and Manage Routines Learn how to customise, create and use Routines with your Google Home speaker and the Google Home app. Step 1 ❱ Your Google Home app comes with several pre-set routines. To view or edit these, tap the Menu button at the top left, and select “More settings”. Scroll down and tap the “Routines” section. Here you will see displayed all of the existing routines, for example“Good morning” or“Bedtime”. Step 2 ❱ Below each routine name, you will see the number of associated actions. Tap a routine to start editing it. While all routines can be edited, you will notice they have differing numbers of actions that can be added. The pre-set routines illustrate this difference. Step 3 ❱ Routines are split into sections: “When I say…”,…

Using Google Home Routines

Play Music Using Bluetooth

Play Music on the Home Speaker Being able to play music stored on your phone or tablet through the Google Home speaker is a useful addition to its bag of tricks and opens up a host of new audio possibilities. Step 1 ❱ Open the Google Home app and tap the name of the device you want to connect with via Bluetooth. In the top right corner of the device info card, tap the device settings menu and then find the Paired Bluetooth devices heading and tap it. In the next screen, tap the Enable Pairing Mode button. Step 2 ❱ Now open the Bluetooth settings on your mobile device and turn Bluetooth on. The device will scan for available connections, and you should see the name you gave your…

Play Music Using Bluetooth

Google Home Tips and Tricks

Listen to Audio ❱ Your Google Home allows you to listen to music, news, podcasts, radio stations, audio books and more. You can also tell it to play ambient sounds in the background. Just say, “Hey Google, help me relax,” or “Hey Google, play forest/nature/ocean sounds.” You can even make it play white noise! Plan Your Day ❱ Start your day off by saying, “Hey Google, Good morning,” to hear traffic, weather and news reports along with a list of your appointments, reminders, and more; you can also ask for these things individually. If you need to find something nearby, just say, “…where is the nearest pharmacy?” for example. Control Your TV ❱ If you have a Chromecast plugged in (orbuiltin) toyourTV, youcan easily controlitwithyour Google Home speaker. If your…

Google Home Tips and Tricks

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