Cloud: A bunch of super fast computers that you can only access through the internet. They host / hold / run our apps, files, pics, videos, websites, databases; are available 99.99% so you can access it anytime.
Does it ever go off? NO, because it’s built in such a way that it has a backup of backup of backup…. If one goes off, another automatically comes on so you never notice. Imagine the way your inverter seamlessly switches from NEPA to batteries. Sweet right?
Let me blow your mind: Any time you open an app on your phone, Google something, browse the web, read an online newspaper, chat on WhatsApp, email, online banking, Netflix, YouTube, download a file, forward that “share with 30 people and you’ll get an alat” 
Facebook message, join that online church service, YOU ARE USING THE CLOUD.So many things run on cloud technologies.
That’s why your bank account manager can call you to authorize a transfer you initiated from your desktop and instantaneously NwunyeCharlie gets an SMS “alat” of 1m Naira deposit. We are so used to it now we never think twice about it. A huge part of our daily lives and activities run on the cloud. Honestly.***So let me ask how are you using CLOUD in your place of employment or business right now?I’ve listed some personal cloud examples above, however so many businesses don’t know how this applies to them. Majority are still on-prem. On-prem is our tech buzz word for on premises.
When your files, apps, resources are in the office, no power – no work; it crashes – no work; it gets lost or stolen – no work; COVID-19 strikes every body goes home – no work. It simply means your resource(s) are on-prem therefore can’t be accessed remotely without internet and power supply.This is not good. It has to change!
There are so many cloud tools. Some are collaborative software that make work easier while making teams more productive and efficient. Majority of our work apps now have a cloud version. If you think it doesn’t, trust me there’s an alternative, worse case you can lift and shift – move that office server with everything in it, to the cloud.
***Examples:
- Finance / POS / ERP: QuickBooks Online, Sage, Odoo, Zero Accounting, Loyverse Dynamics 365, SAP
- Productivity: Microsoft Office 365, GSuite, Azure
- Social: LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Yammer, Instagram
- Communication: Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Skype
- Collaboration: Microsoft Teams, Planner, Slack, Yammer, Trello
- Cloud Storage: OneDrive, SharePoint, Google Drive, DropBox
In Summary
The “right” tools for your team will depend on your budget, the people you work with, and your team’s personal preferences.
So, what’s the ONE THING you need accessible any day, any time, any where? Are you powered by the cloud?
