Cloud computing improves business

A growing number of Marlborough businesses are adapting to use cloud-based services says Blenheim IT consultant Lee Harper.

Harper is the managing director of Blenheim IT consulting firm pcMedia, who for the past two years has been working on cloud computing projects for businesses around the country and gaining a reputation as industry leaders, he said.

He has been invited to speak at the Lawlink conference held in Wellington in September, to give businesses in the legal sector ideas of how cloud computing can improve business and cut costs.

With Network Tasman, TelstraClear and Chorus delivering fibre to Blenheim and with more than 90 per cent of Blenheim businesses able to access high-speed internet by June next year, Marlborough is well ahead of many other smaller regions around the country.

"Fibre is the key link to everything and we've got lots of it, which puts us in a very strong position," he said.

"There are 200 business people already using cloud computing services in Marlborough and the figure is doubling every 12 months."

Wineries wanting to work from anywhere around the world and under pressure to cut costs, have been early adapters of cloud computing, he said.

Some quotes pcMedia has supplied for businesses of 10 to 20 staff forecast savings of up to $20,000 over four years, he said. Savings are possible because instead of buying expensive computers, software and a server which require continual upkeep, the program is housed by a remote server which can be accessed by an Apple or android desktop, tablet, laptop or phone, instead of normal Windows-based computers, he said.

"There are some really cool solutions, some small businesses of two or three people might find [file sharing application] Dropbox is all they need, and that's free."

Harper expects growth to be largest in the support sectors such as the legal, accounting and health services, as people plan to minimise risk in event of a disaster, he said.

In anticipation of the uptake of cloud computing services, pcMedia are extending its range of online backup solutions, and have just launched a replication service to backup data in two locations in case of major disasters.

From Marlborough Express 24 July 2012