Until recently, our company was like most small- to medium-size companies in terms of its computer technology infrastructure. Our e-mail was managed via a Microsoft Exchange server; our corporate data was housed on another server within our network; and we gained remote (out-of-office) access via a Citrix connection. There were some firewalls and routers thrown into the mix to complete the system. This is a very common server architecture, yet it is expensive to build, takes very specialized training to manage, and must be updated periodically as new Internet threats appear, or as holes in its software are exploited. Furthermore, servers — like all computers — age and break down over time. Because servers typically run 24/7 without rest, they might last only 3 to 5 years, depending on dozens of factors.
At my company, we were at the point when our servers were aging enough that we began looking for solutions for replacements. To accomplish this, I first solicited bids to replace the existing servers and migrate e-mails and data from the old system to the new. I walked away with sticker shock. A four-year analysis of anticipated server costs and maintenance came in at $320,000! This analysis assumed several conditions that were unlikely to happen: (1) no increase in our maintenance costs; (2) no increase in the cost of replacement servers in 4 years; (3) no disasters. In other words, the $320,000 cost estimate was low, probably by a factor of at least 15 to 25 percent. I therefore began searching for an alternative that would be as reliable but more cost effective.
Cloud Computing
I found the solution in cloud computing, also called Software as a Service (SaaS). You may not know this but you may already be practicing cloud computing. For example, do you use Yardi or Onesite for…