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Quote for the Month:

"When you are through changing, you are through."
    -- Bruce Barton

Over the last few years, a new term has emerged in the technology world, known as cloud computing. Cloud computing provides the ultimate in scalability and flexibility with regards to IT infrastructure. It offers convenient, on-demand network access via the Internet to a shared pool of configurable computing resources that can be rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management effort or service provider interaction.

Traditionally, users would run applications and view data on their computer or local network. Cloud computing occurs when users run applications and view data via the Internet for a monthly fee or subscription. The term cloud is a metaphor for Internet.

Cloud computing is a computing paradigm based on the use of shared resources that are geographically dispersed, can be dynamically allocated to specific users and tasks, and are accessed as a service using wide area networking.

Some key benefits of cloud computing include:

• No up-front cost or initial investment for infrastructure;
• It does not take up valuable real estate;
• It provides high end scalability;
• It can be run using geographically dispersed grids, i.e. Vancouver and Toronto;
• There is no challenge in trying to supply sufficient electricity and cooling.

There are several types of cloud computing models. The following is a brief description of each:

Public Cloud
A public cloud describes cloud computing in the traditional mainstream sense, whereby resources are dynamically provisioned from an offsite, third party provider, who shares resources and bills on a utility computing basis.

Hybrid cloud
A hybrid cloud environment consists of multiple internal and/or external providers and will be typical for most enterprises.

Private cloud
A Private cloud has been used to describe offerings that emulate cloud computing on private networks.

The days of large capital purchases and underutilized hardware and software will become something of the past. Instead, technology-as-a-service gives businesses the ability to utilize technology as cost effectively as possible.

There is no one solution that would work for every business. The majority of technology providers agree a hybrid cloud solution would generally be most common. The key to cloud computing is finding the right solution for your business.

Is this occurring in your business?

• Your staff complain about the speed of your computer systems;
• You have concerns regarding how your data is being protected;
• You do not have peace of mind with your system;
• You do not have a clear understanding of the costs associated with technology;
• You do not know how your system or cost structure compares to companies of similar size and complexity;
• Your systems are unstable;
• Building your own IT department is too costly.

Outsourcing is a concept that many small and medium sized businesses are familiar with as they search for ways to reduce costs and/or to hire expertise they don't employ in their business. Benefits of IT outsourcing include:

• Gaining peace of mind knowing your network is stable and secure. Anticipating and resolving IT problems before they occur;
• Creating more productive employees through proper technology management;
• Lowering the costs associated with risk in your organization;
• Empowering your business with an IT strategy that combines knowledge in managed network services with the tools you need to guide your business towards success;
• Making efficient use of resources by letting experts take care of your IT needs;
• Saving money by hiring only the IT resources you need and avoid spiking IT costs with a fixed fee solution.

ActiveCo is a leading North American outsourced IT managed service provider (MSP) dedicated to helping small and medium sized businesses fulfill their technology needs while helping them reduce the high cost of supporting internal IT functions. We empower businesses with the same level of IT service and support that large enterprises enjoy, at a fraction of the cost.

As an MSP, ActiveCo will manage your IT services via the Internet, providing you with:

• A virtually unlimited knowledge base for all your IT challenges;
• Access to skilled and trained professionals;
• Insight into current technologies;
• Multi-level service ensuring no single point of failure;
• Timely response to critical system issues.

"We have been with Activeco since August 2009 and are looking forward to a long continuous relationship. They have been involved in both current and proactive aspects of our business. We have been assigned a team whom we work with closely and who we have formed good relationships with. We feel confident going forward that our needs are being addressed both in the short term and the long term. We asked for and received an extensive time line for our system maintenance/replacement that we can now work with for budget purposes. From our monthly meetings, we receive our updates on our system. It is very important to us that we have the knowledge of our own system.

We feel very comfortable recommending them to other would-be users."

Dorothy Malkin
Director of Operations, Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver

Empower your business with an IT strategy from ActiveCo. Contact us today and let ActiveCo build your network so you can build your business.

ActiveCo Computer Solutions Inc. provides professionally managed network services to companies with computer networks. Combining high quality, time sensitive and reliable managed network services, ActiveCo gives your business confidence in technology supporting an increasingly complex business environment.

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