Technology Planning

2012 tech trends: what you should focus on

December 14, 2011

In October 2011, Gartner, the world's leading information technology research and advisory company based in the U.S., presented its annual Top 10 Strategic Technology Trends for 2012. It covered everything from increased use of media tablets in a post-PC era, to the explosion of mobile-centric applications (predicting 70 billion available apps by 2014), through to "Big Data" challenges, next-generation analytics capabilities and social networking. What is a small company to do? Our answer: be prepared for the future but stay focused on what will be of most use and concern to you today. Here are our suggestions:

• Adopt cloud computing. It's tailor-made for small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Basically, cloud computing means that applications, files and documents reside in an offsite data centre, not on your computer's hard drive, and you and your employees can access them via the Internet, anytime and anywhere. Advantages include:
  
  
  • Cost savings. You eliminate the need for a costly infrastructure and, depending on your budget and needs, can pick and choose the services you want to outsource. In addition, services like Primus Virtual Managed Machine are scalable, allowing you to pay for only what you need. You can increase or decrease the amount of storage required to match your stage of business and you aren't purchasing servers that are under-used when you install them, then overburdened as your business expands.
  • Security. Some SME's have expressed concerns about data security if they adopt cloud computing. Ironically, good providers offer better security and privacy than most SMEs have internally because they have 24/7 monitoring, management and reporting features that many companies might not otherwise be able to afford. In addition, data stored in a cloud does not suffer fire damage or theft.
  • Accessibility. Perfect for companies with mobile employees, cloud computing allows instant access offsite by you and your employees so that you can create, update and share files.
• Switch to VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol). Future and current-day technology advances - such as increased broadband accessibility and unified communications (UC), where all your voice and data are merged to a single unified platform, make this the smartest phone system for any business. Here's why:
  
  
  
  • Cost savings. If you use a hosted service like Primus HPBX, you eliminate the need to own and service your own phone system. Not only that, but VoIP systems are scalable, allowing you to pay for only what you need.
  • Efficiencies. Hosted systems are reliable, providing your customers with instant, high-quality and seamless access to your staff. As well, there are no long distance charges between branch offices, so you can utilize the productivity boosts inherent with UC functions like video conferencing, picking up voice and email, and computer to telephone calls.
  • Mobile workers. Enjoy features like unified messaging, a single number for both office and mobile calls, and the ability to access the virtual private network from any public internet connection. Mobile workers can connect seamlessly with customers by using features like find-me/follow-me (call forwarding). VoIP also makes it easier to set up branch offices and add extensions quickly.

Perhaps the most important investment any company can make when looking at the technology offerings of the future is in security. Each new advance brings IT security and management challenges that need to be addressed. The solution is simple: outsource your data and servers. Here's why:

• Up-to-date knowledge of security threats. Chances are, a good service provider has kept up with potential threats to data security better than you have. After all, it's their business. Good outsourced data centres even deploy multiple layers of physical security, including iris scanners, to ensure only authorized IT staff have access.
• Disaster recovery. Power outages. Break-ins. Theft. If your data is stored outside your office, whether fully at a data centre or via Server Colocation services, like Primus', you will be fully up and running again faster and with less headache and expense if disaster strikes.
• Cost savings. Not only do you save on purchasing data storage and server equipment to house on site, but you also save time and money on the IT knowledge needed to run it. This not only includes on-site IT staff, but also costs associated with various online compliances (eg. certification requirements associated with processing financial transactions online) should you require them. A good service provider will have any certification you need.

Rather than becoming overwhelmed with all that technology offers - and is likely to offer - take a good look at the services that will benefit your small business the most. The trick is to use technology to your advantage. Primus can help you sort through some of the tech solutions that might work best for your business. Visit our business data, voice and hosting services to find out how.

By business content provider Susan Baka, Bay Communications & Marketing Inc.