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What Do Cloud Networks Offer Your Employees

Posted July 28, 2013 12:00 AM by CR4 Guest Author

Many businesses have started using cloud networks in an attempt to make life easier for employees and corporate data handling. Not only that, but the cloud offers many benefits that are impossible to emulate with a traditional server due to technical limitations. If you are trying to figure out if a cloud is right for your business, then you should consider the benefits that it has for your employees. Here are just a few things that the cloud can do for your business.

Access Software
The vast majority of businesses use either a proprietary software solution, or they license an expensive program that is difficult for individuals to purchase. Regardless of which description fits you, the truth is that your employees need special programs to do their work. If they are unable to access that software, then they can't do their projects and other work.

A cloud network easily allows employees to access software because the network is based on the Internet. Every program is Web-based, which means that your workers can use them through any computer as long as there is an Internet connection. This ensures that your workers can continue working even after the day is over if needed.

Better Telecommuting
Many workers have to commute to their job, which presents many problems. First of all, there is a high chance that workers will be late because they are caught in traffic. Most employees also hate driving or taking the train for several hours to get to the office. This has led many employers to accept telecommuting, or employees that work over the Internet.

The problem is that many telecommuting solutions don't work very well. If you have a special program or files that the worker needs to access, then he or she might be unable to complete a project until someone transfers over the proper files.

A cloud network makes this easier because server access is simple. If the employee needs to get a file, then he or she can just sign on and access the server. If the employee needs a program, then it's available on the online interface. The flexibility of a cloud server makes it the same no matter where you are, so when you're at home it's just like being at the office.

Telecommuting doesn't just make workers happy. This can also reduce the number of sick days. Many employees that call out are too sick to drive or commute for several hours, but they are well enough to do some of their work if they don't have to travel. This allows them to work even if they can't move very well.

The same can be said of calling out due to injury. Someone with a broken leg can still work from the hospital if you have a cloud network. This allows your employees to make a living even if they can't go to the office for one reason or another.

Better Security

Many people are saying that the cloud isn't safe, but the reality is that cloud solutions are often safer than people assume. How does this make things better for your employees?

Hackers often steal a lot of money from companies, which makes it harder for you to give out promotions, increase salaries and pay your employees what they deserve. This is not an expense that businesses wants to pay, nor is it one that most businesses expect.

The cloud is more secure than traditional servers because there are often more security programs watching the server's activity. It's also much harder for employees to access the servers, which means that internal theft is quite difficult.

Authentication is also stricter with most cloud solutions to make it much harder for someone to sign into the network. It takes more than a simple username and password. The user usually has to supply information from his or her device that consistently matches the cloud's records.

This will decrease your spending, which will allow you to do more for your employees.

Conclusion
The cloud is great for employees because they can easily access files and programs without having to be connected to the company's server. They can also work from home without any hassle. The only thing you have to do now is implement this system so that you and your employees can reap the benefits of this advanced technology.

Editor's Note: Rosa Smith uses a a cloud when working remotely on her personal blog. Cloud security company Profit Bricks offers great ways to customize your businesses cloud network to fit your needs.

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#1

Re: What Do Cloud Networks Offer Your Employees

07/28/2013 2:17 AM

I'll not knock the many advantages, but 'your workers can continue working even after the day is over' ?

Yep, that sounds like a real selling point. Nothing wrong with a strong work ethic, but that may be pushing things a bit. For many people being able to end the working day and get back to 'life' is a major thing. It doesn't (and can't) happen in many jobs, but the quoted bit is a little scarey.

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#2
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Re: What Do Cloud Networks Offer Your Employees

07/28/2013 3:17 AM

No Kris you don't understand.
It's the new secret 25th hour only available to autanticated work zombies who have been taking the medication for long enough.
Now sit down in front of the hypnotron and get plugged back in.

Repeat after me,
I must continue working...
I must contiune working....
How can I manage a decent catnap if some of you guys are quitting
Del (sound of whip cracking)

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#4
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Re: What Do Cloud Networks Offer Your Employees

07/28/2013 5:06 AM

It get's funnier the more I read it '....This allows them to work even if they can't move very well'*. If this carries on, I may feel some compulsion to type on bended knees whilst tugging my forelock. The thread title and thread content is almost like a script plot for 'Yes, Minister'.

* That may be a fair and good point in the right context, but it's begging to be ripped on in the overall post.

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#3

Re: What Do Cloud Networks Offer Your Employees

07/28/2013 4:08 AM

Now they only think I have my head in the clouds; with this scheme they'll know. Sounds like a loser.

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#5

Re: What Do Cloud Networks Offer Your Employees

07/28/2013 12:11 PM

I don't like "the cloud".

I don't trust "the cloud".

"the cloud" is just another creative way for sellers of "the cloud" to make money.

Soon, we will not be able to "own" a copy of Bills latest half developed software, we'll just rent it. It won't be resident on our PC, it won't be portable in the sense of taking a disc and loading it onto your new PC. You'll have to rent a "new" copy.

How will this benefit anybody, except the purveyors of "the cloud"?

All the hype is just that, hype.

We're moving all our data to "the cloud" where I work. (I haven't started yet. It'll take time away from doing something productive to transfer all my files to "the cloud") Will that save us time? No. Will it save us money? No. Will it help productivity? No.

It's another added impediment because we now have to store our data in yet another location, that costs us more money.

I already have have connectivity to work 24/7 on my home PC and my smart phone.

My phone is never turned off. I respond to any messages I get no matter the time of day or day of week.

"the cloud" will make some more new billionaires, I guess, that's about it.

Did I mention that I don't trust "the cloud"?

"the cloud" is to me what GMO is to farming. People aren't pushing "the cloud", or GMO because it will save the world, they're doing it to make money. Does "the cloud" really help anybody, but the owners of "the cloud"?

I think not.

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Re: What Do Cloud Networks Offer Your Employees

07/28/2013 1:11 PM
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Re: What Do Cloud Networks Offer Your Employees

07/28/2013 1:19 PM

Oh, sure! Make fun of your elders!

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Re: What Do Cloud Networks Offer Your Employees

07/28/2013 8:14 PM

I totally agree.

As far as security goes, no cloud system is anywhere as secure as a closed, in-house network system.

Any network traffic is vulnerable when sent over the internet and more so when stored on some 3rd party server that you have no control over. Yes, you can encrypt, but I would not trust that something is not subject to either breaking the encryption or stealing the key.

I would never surrender control and possession of my data nor "rent" software.

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#10
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Re: What Do Cloud Networks Offer Your Employees

07/28/2013 9:34 PM

The cloud is nice for non-tech savy people. but for proffesionals it leaves a lot to be desired, I'll bet Hackers love the cloud.

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#11
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Re: What Do Cloud Networks Offer Your Employees

07/29/2013 12:29 AM

Not really. If there is a hole in a cloud environment, then one patch fixes it for thousands of systems at once. Hackers hate this aspect of cloud computing. Also, most Internet facing systems are Linux at the core, so, hacking is difficult any way.

I just did a client session with a small piano tuning business that was trying to keep simple customer records that contained only dates and times and location and client specific notes and they were using windows contacts and a calendar book. I moved them to Google gmail, calendar and contacts and now they can do everything from any where with PCs cellphones and ipads.

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Re: What Do Cloud Networks Offer Your Employees

07/29/2013 1:49 PM

I would never surrender control and possession of my data nor "rent" software.

You will (on both counts). Cold dead paws and all that, but I fear there is no escape. I hope I'm wrong, but we will all end up in that place. Filofax doesn't seem quite so naff now.

'Buy' a miocrosoft (anyones) product and you know full well it will be obsolete and incompatible with other stuff in a few years time. That's not exactly renting, but it isn't depreciation or anything else. People may pay money for a product that they know will have no useful function in a few years time. The only reason it doesn't work after a certain date is that it's designed to be so. That is rental by any other name.

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Re: What Do Cloud Networks Offer Your Employees

07/29/2013 2:32 PM

That begs the question of who will de-bug Mircosoft's software for them when all theirs is in the cloud?

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Re: What Do Cloud Networks Offer Your Employees

07/29/2013 3:54 PM

We tango in the ashes, and await out saviour of chioce ! Mine is a plump pigeon called Speckled Jim.

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#13
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Re: What Do Cloud Networks Offer Your Employees

07/29/2013 10:58 AM

I don't like "the cloud".

I don't trust "the cloud".

I agree.

I have nothing against people (or companies) making money, however, I'm afraid most people are not looking clearly enough at the trade-offs. It may appear cost effective to just rent software....why spend $XXX on your operating system or word processor software every few years when you can lease it for a fraction of that amount and always have the latest. I can see the eyes of those trying to save money and improve the bottom line light up.

But :

  • How often do you need to update your OS or other application software?
    • Is it every time a new version comes out?
    • How does the economic analysis work out if it's evaluated by not updating apps every year (or two years or whatever the frequency) compared to leasing the software?
    • Personally, I make an effort to never buy the next version of a software product (especially if there's a new version out annually), with a few exceptions.
  • What happens when the leaser goes out of business?
    • What is the cost of converting all your stuff to the new leaser's formats?
    • Are you even able to operate your business?
  • What is the cost of a security breach?
    • By operating in the cloud you have outsourced security of your system and customer's information to a third party.
    • How liable is the entity operating the cloud for damages?
    • If your customers come after you or your business because their information was compromised, can you in turn go after the cloud?
    • Sure, but if it's on a grand scale, what can you realistically expect especially if they just close up shop?

The security issue brings up another things that bothers me as Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) gets implemented. I'll save that for another comment though.

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#9

Re: What Do Cloud Networks Offer Your Employees

07/28/2013 8:29 PM

I worked at a company (machine shop/machine builder) of 100+ employees, they had two land lines. And one was for the fax. They gave the rest of the office cell phone.

I get calls 8:00 10:00 at night for some of the issues on their equipment.....long story. Anyways.... We were on call 24/7, I started to look for a different job after a 80+ week that included a 36 hour shift (a start up).

That Monday I felt like crap but went in anyways, they bitched on my meal expenses, after a 36 hour I worked straight, no lunch breaks. I had went out at red lobster for crab, btw, that was $36.00. Since I basically skipped 5 meals, not intentionally. They complained, and I pointed it out to look at the totals. And if that's still a problem, find someone else..... Later found out the Customer was requesting me.

That Tuesday, still exhausted, I called in sick, they actually sent someone to my house to check on me. That very same day, I started to look elsewhere.

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Re: What Do Cloud Networks Offer Your Employees

07/29/2013 12:33 AM

Boy do I know THAT story! I reduced my 24/7 call volume almost completely with all the clients I moved to the cloud. Now, I only have to worry about the big problems when they are local and not server related. Now, I can take a vacation without checking my phone!

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Re: What Do Cloud Networks Offer Your Employees

07/29/2013 11:58 AM

What Do Cloud Networks Offer Your Employees

A: A ready made excuse. To wit: The Cloud ate my homework.

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#15

Re: What Do Cloud Networks Offer Your Employees

07/29/2013 1:35 PM

The ONLY secure computer is the one that is not connected to any network and is Tempest Level A qualified.

And that assumes no internal threats.

Hooker

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#19
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Re: What Do Cloud Networks Offer Your Employees

07/29/2013 6:14 PM

Or a computer that is off and unplugged.

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Re: What Do Cloud Networks Offer Your Employees

07/30/2013 8:09 AM

Touche!

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Re: What Do Cloud Networks Offer Your Employees

07/30/2013 8:36 AM

Somehow, I am still nervous about even that. :)

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#20

Re: What Do Cloud Networks Offer Your Employees

07/30/2013 6:03 AM

<...Someone with a broken leg can still work from the hospital if you have a cloud network...>

What about if they are stranded on Mars?

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Re: What Do Cloud Networks Offer Your Employees

07/30/2013 6:48 AM

"What about if they are stranded on Mars?"

There will be a signal delay between 4 to 24 minutes.

You thought dial-up modems were slow...

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Re: What Do Cloud Networks Offer Your Employees

07/30/2013 7:39 AM
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#21

Re: What Do Cloud Networks Offer Your Employees

07/30/2013 6:14 AM

Oooooh! Ooooooooh! Got it!

No internal e-mails!

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