A recent blog post on wired.com (http://www.wired.com/cloudline/2012/05/social-mobile-cloud/) delved into what the article called “the new paradigm” for business, which is the combination of business trends in using social networks, mobility and the Cloud. The blog highlights the critical points to moving businesses to the future in how they use technology, security, methods of marketing and communicating.
As for social networking, the article points out that 22% of time spent online is on social network sites. While LinkedIn has been the social platform for business networking, the trend is quickly moving to many other social sites, as well. The same could be said for the use of facebook for marketing. It really depends on the type of business, in order to determine which social site is best to use to promote itself. Business to Consumer, for example, is often better for facebook. Twitter can reach a multitude of people on a consistent basis, but it, too, is just one of many avenues. Some companies also look to outside tech or social media businesses for help with social media marketing.
Mobile computing is used more than ever in business, as employees work at home or retrieve or send information from various locations. It is necessary for mobile to be able to deliver applications and critical information and do so in a secure manner. This is a major concern of businesses, leaving some leary of moving forward, but it is quickly becoming a business necessity. To prevent malware, businesses should make sure their phones are newer versions and updated. Older phones tend to be more vulnerable to attacks. A good AntiVirus is also a necessity. Caution should be exercised when accessing databases remotely. An application programming interface that does not interact directly with the database is just one way to ensure security.
The Cloud continues to grow in its use for businesses, based on its convenience and its cost-effectiveness. As tablets, too, become even more mainstream for business, the Cloud is the tool for delivering services and information to multiple endpoints. Concerns remain around security for the Cloud, but with good Backup and AntiVirus/Anti-Malware, Log-in Authentication and Data Encryption, these problems can be solved. Many companies are migrating to the Cloud, at least partially to adapt to changing business environments. Cloud migration can be highly cost-effective, but it also offers convenience, especially in offering the ability to access information quickly and securely. An IT Services provider can work with a business in fine-tuning its database needs and devising a plan to ensure that all of the customer’s data, backup, application, etc. needs are met and that the Cloud migration runs smoothly. The possibilities of the Cloud are exciting and worth a look.
