Invest in cost-effective technology to grow your business
Do you spend money on technology, or do you invest in technology? If you spend money on technology, you buy software after you already need it. Purchasing is reactive. Excess money is spent on services you ‘think’ you’ll need, but do not actually use.
If you invest in technology, you do things a little differently. You think long-term and invest in solutions that grow with you. And you find innovative ways to wring more value out of every dollar.
Cloud technology – more for your money
Today, the investment approach is best represented by cloud computing. When your IT solutions are hosted in the cloud, you avoid high capital expenses associated with on-premises technology. That’s true even when you need to add more storage or host new applications. And business costs are more predictable with the flexible subscription models offered by many cloud solutions.
Hybrid cloud – an easy first step
The cloud is not an all-or-nothing proposition. You may want to keep some applications on your in-house servers, and move others to the cloud. With the “hybrid” approach, you have the flexibility to run your apps and host your data in the way that is best for your business. That could be onsite, in the cloud, or both.
A great place to start is with solutions like Office 365 and Windows Server. Using one, all, or a combination of the three, you can quickly adapt to changing business demands with affordable solutions.
If you want to host your applications in the cloud, Office 365 provides anywhere access to the familiar Office experience, from desktop to device.
Virtualization – minimize operating costs
If you do have servers running on-site apps, expanding your business often requires new servers to support added software. But, using a server with virtualization built in, like Windows Server 2012 R2, lets you run more apps on the same server. You get added capacity without the added cost of new hardware, IT maintenance, and power bills.
Virtualization can also make the upgrade process simpler. This is especially important if you’re running Windows Server 2003 because support will end for this product (incl. Windows Small Business Server 2003) on July 14, 2015. Upgrade now to Windows Server 2012 R2.
Pay as you go
Whether you were purchasing servers, software or services, the “spend” approach used to be the only option. You had to pay up-front for what you thought you’d need, be it more storage or a new email application. Now, cloud technologies offer a more efficient payment model: pay as you go.
Better yet, don’t wait until you need new IT solutions. Take a first step into the cloud and you can start saving money while also preparing for growth.
Invest in your future
The next time you need new technology, think about how you can invest your money smarter. Can you lower upfront costs with the cloud’s pay-as-you-go structure? Use the hybrid model to move to the cloud on your terms? Get more value out of your servers through virtualization?
For example, Office 365 is a flexible subscription that covers a suite of apps. This payment structure minimizes upfront costs and provides the flexibility to quickly change your subscription based on the number of users or services.