How hard can it be to implement Microsoft Office 365 or get the new Skype for Business set up for your company? This is a question small businesses, entrepreneurs and even midlevel enterprises ask themselves.
It starts off so innocently. While it doesn’t always end in disaster, the results of a business playing DIY with cloud solutions often is not optimal.
The reason is simple. You don’t know what you don’t know. Your expertise is your business. More than likely, your thinking is right in getting a cloud solution, but there are several nuances you need a cloud consultant to help you with.
Here are some costly missteps companies have experienced when they tried to implement cloud solutions on their own.
Wrong license. This happens more times than you might think. One of our newer clients implemented Office 365 for their staff but used the wrong licensing for their needs. They were paying more than they should have been. An expert can guide you in selecting the license that makes the most sense at the least cost for your needs.
Not using what you’re paying for. You might have the right licensing but find yourself paying for features or applications you don’t know how to use. Working with a Microsoft cloud service provider like Nortec means you get the full run down of all the features and apps included with your licensing, so you know what you have and how to use it.
No backups. No matter what you do in the cloud, not having backups courts disaster, data loss and downtime. Several companies who implemented their own cloud solutions mistakenly believed these cloud-based applications meant they had backups or didn’t need them. Note that the OneDrive automatic replication feature is not a backup.
Un-unified communications. From purchasing the wrong system for their needs to installing with the wrong configurations, a number of companies have made costly mistakes when installing cloud-based (or even on-premise) unified communications phone systems. For your unified communications systems to do what you need it to, purchase the system and installation through an expert consultant who has your best interests in mind.
Not addressing on-premise issues. Cloud experts know to look for issues with equipment and building infrastructure to ensure you maximize your cloud investment. We’ve worked with clients across multiple industries in Washington, D.C., Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and the surrounding areas to implement cloud solutions and we know exactly what to look for.
As simple as adding cloud applications and solutions might sound, there is a lot that can go wrong. Even if you think you’re saving money by doing it yourself, you could be costing your company thousands (or more!) with one wrong move. Do the cloud right and work with cloud experts who know the most cost-effective ways for getting you exactly what you want in a cloud solution. After all – you don’t know what could go wrong. But we do.
Is something wrong with your cloud solution? Contact Nortec for help at 866-531-1990 or online.