How Cloud Computing is Saving Companies from Economic and Environmental Unrest

The Metropolitan Police drafted in thousands of officers last week for the G20 summit. Tube stations and roads were closed, security measures tightened, demonstrations aplenty, and entire areas of London were in 'lock down'.

This kind of disruption in any city impacts business and their ability for staff to work normally. Even natural events such as February’s national snowstorms cost British business an estimated £1.2bn, as one in five workers were cut off from their workplace.

It has been cited that 80% of businesses affected by a major disruption do not survive the shock as their customers go elsewhere. Not being reliant on 'getting to the office' in order to function is not a 21st century phenomenon. However, it is only now that companies can truly have the flexibility to be anywhere other than the office, and on any computer to function. The good news is the required mobility and flexibility is now a reality - virtually.

Over 50% of the country's workers have reduced their travel expenses and over 65% of employers have cut their organisational budgets as a response to the recession. Source: CIPD/KPMG

The economic environment is set to continue through 2009 and into 2010. Budgets are tighter than ever and we all still have an important part to play in global sustainability. Avoiding disruptive pitfalls, being 'greener', more cost-effective, and yet securing your information can all be achieved with remote access to vital IT services.

Intercept works with clients to create a personalised flexible working strategy, using the technologies and services that are appropriate for their business size, objectives, and budget.

The benefits are immediately visible:

• Freedom of staff, be they desk-based or on-the-road sales people, to access all of their information – all of the time.
• Maintenance or improvement of data security levels with disaster recovery solutions and secure off-site storage systems
• 'Always on' computing and support as IT infrastructure is not dependent on one machine
• Hot-desking and home working can cut the cost of IT hardware, travel and energy bills.
• Optimisation of software and files saves cost and increases management capabilities.
• Under-used storage, applications and workstations are a thing of the past.

So, you would think that this panacea to the economic and environmental turbulence is a costly approach. Absolutely not. In fact, virtualisation of your desktops, applications and servers can be seen to save corporations significant overhead. Ask us for examples. It can be achieved in days, not months. And will free your workers and immunise your business from potential disruption or disaster.