An interesting take on the cloud... 

10 Reasons your business should resist the move to the Cloud in 2012:

#10. Reduced costs: You’ve spent considerable dollars on computers, servers, and software over the years. While it’s true that much of it is outdated and many new programs won’t operate on your older machines, it still works- sort of. We know that Cloud computing reduces hardware costs and networking management, but why improve on what works- most of the time.

#9. Scalability: The business climate is tough and you can’t worry about potential growth. The Cloud allows companies to scale their business’ storage needs seamlessly, using and paying for only what they use, but why worry about the future now?

#8. Automatic Updates: Your Company has been using the same software for years and the provider sends those pretty CDs for every update. You then get to use the extended quality time to bond with your staff while you plow through the upgrade efforts. The Cloud eliminates the need for IT to worry about paying for your future updates in terms of software and hardware, but what will your staff use for coasters?

#7. Remote Access: The Cloud allows your employees, partners, and client’s freedom to access and update information wherever they are, without having to run back to the office. Don’t you want your team sitting at their desks all day instead of being on the road meeting with potential clients?

#6. Disaster Relief: Disasters come along so infrequently that why worry about the occasional flood, storm, or hurricane? It’s true that the Cloud safely stores everything on secure data centers, accessible anywhere employees have an internet connection, but with your PCs and servers safely tucked away in your old coat closets, your business has nothing to worry about.

#5. Ease of Implementation: Ease of Implementation: Your IT person has set up your entire system to work, most of the time. He has everything networked and is available within 2-3 days to fix whatever is broken. It’s true that implementing cloud services is easy as and reduces both time and cost but what are you going to do? After all, your nephew has been working so hard to get everything working properly.

#4. Skilled Vendors: Who would you trust to manage and protect your data? A company such as InfoStreet (with over 16 years experience serving enterprise clients), IBM or Amazon or your IT staff? After all, your nephew has been working so hard to get everything working properly.

#3. Even playing field for your small business: You don’t want to grow your small business too quickly and you certainly don’t want to project the image that you can compete with your larger competitors. The Cloud gives your small business the same tools that Fortune 100 companies use yet your business will only have to pay for what you need (see #2). Small is cute so why change?

#2. Flexibility: Kids play with building blocks so they can build whatever their imagination designs. The Cloud will allow your business to select what your company needs, when you need it, and use it how you want to. You can select an intranet as your platform, email and CRM from InfoStreet, email marketing tools from Topica, financial services from Kashoo, … you use and pay for only what you need. You’re not a kid so grow up and operate the business the way your father did decades ago.

#1. The most important reason not to move your company to the Cloud: Because if you don’t, we will.

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Marcy Hoffman is the Vice President of Demand Generation at InfoStreet.

InfoStreet is a Cloud Apps provider. Widely regarded as a pioneer in Cloud-based Apps, InfoStreet introduced its first business solution via the Cloud in 1995. InfoStreet’s flagship offering, StreetSmart, delivers 100% Cloud-based business solutions that increase employee performance, strengthen customer relationships, improve communication, and reduce costs. StreetSmart includes such Cloud apps as: Virus Protected and SPAM Free Email, Email Archiving, Shared Calendars, Tasks, Customer Relationship Management (CRM), File Sharing, Knowledge Base, Portal, and more. Try InfoStreet's StreetSmart apps by visiting http://www.infostreet.com or call 866-956-5051 for more information.