You’ve heard the expression, “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.” So why put all your investment capital in one part of your business? IT resources can eat a large chunk of your startup or investors’ capital, taking funding away from more crucial aspects of a new business. While having the right IT solutions for your business is important, you may not need an extensive IT setup immediately. This is especially true now that the cloud is a safe, efficient and cost effective option.
You can make your business or investors’ capital go much further if you are slightly conservative. To start, purchase IT assets and utilize the cloud instead of buying physical or on premise resources. Avoid overinvesting in IT resources you may not need immediately and invest your capital in other ways. Those who are first starting a business can use these tips to effectively manage IT with realistic resources:
Count on the cloud: Why is everything moving to the cloud? Because it’s cost effective and efficient — two things every startup or small business is looking for. With the cloud, there is nothing to manage, no infrastructure cost and no large capital needed for hardware. Little maintenance is required and you don’t have to pay consultants to install and update applications. The cloud is more secure and flexible so you can move from one vendor to another as you grow.
Strengthen your core: Determine the core infrastructure functions your business needs. From there, decide how many workstations and how much storage space you need to run your business. You’ll find that almost all core functions a business needs, like Microsoft Office 365, can be found and managed from the cloud and configured to meet your requirements now and in the future.
Save with a suite: Today, more businesses large and small are choosing cloud-based programs over on-premise versions to handle not only IT functions, but financial business as well. For your accounting and sales tracking needs, consider using a suite of programs. Keep track of your accounting with programs like QuickBooks Online and NetSuite, which can be used online through the cloud. Record and report sales stats and mange CRM (customer relationship management) with solutions like Sales Force conveniently through the cloud.
Skip the phone system: Even your phone system can be cloud-based. The primary way businesses currently communicate is digitally over the web. We collaborate and perform daily business tasks largely by email, webcasts and online meetings. Why pay a fortune for a phone system? You can provide several modes of communication with a cloud-based phone system, like Ring Central.
Cloud-based phone systems offer many of the same premise-based system features, but also include solutions for online meeting services, sales presentations and more. This saves a new business money on communications with coworkers and clients.
Of course, you’ll need some computers to use all of these services. To keep them updated and secure, consider applying a cloud-based IT systems management solution, which requires only a web browser to deploy and can quickly manage all computers within your new business.
When you’re starting or growing a company, capital is key. Spending it wisely is the most important thing you can do to get your business off to the right start. Spending all your capital dollars on IT resources too early in the game may not be the best financial choice.
Managing IT resources using the cloud can be a safe and cost effective resource for a new business. Consider the benefits of managing core IT functions in the cloud and investing capital on your business’s more pressing startup costs.
Ashley Leonard is the president and CEO of Verismic Software, a global industry leader providing cloud-based IT management technology. He is a technology entrepreneur with 25 years of experience in enterprise software, sales, and operational leadership. He founded Verismic in 2012 after successfully selling his former company, NetworkD, an infrastructure management software organization. Leonard currently manages U.S., Australian and European operations, defines corporate strategies, oversees sales and marketing and guides product development. For more information, visit www.cloudmanagementsuite.com. Verismic is headquartered in Aliso Viejo, California. For more information, visit www.verismic.com.
