| If you are hosting your company's email network inside | | | | When you use a cloud-based infrastructure |
| your physical building on an exchange server, there are | | | | architecture provided by an outside vendor, many of |
| certain risks you must deal with. What would happen if | | | | the problems associated with an onsite server |
| the building itself was damaged due to fire, flood, or | | | | disappear. |
| another catastrophe? Having the server onsite also | | | | Commercial clouds adhere to quality of service |
| allows for unintended access by unauthorized people. | | | | standards and service level agreements, taking away |
| There are other security issues, as well, such as the | | | | the need for an IT department at your company. The |
| implementation of firewalls and other forms of | | | | system provided on the cloud is almost infinitely |
| preventing the data from being hacked - an important | | | | scalable; many software service plans are priced |
| consideration for anyone who takes payments online. | | | | according to your specific usage and needs, making it |
| If you are worried about the safety and security of | | | | a much less expensive alternative. Conversely, if your |
| your commercial email account, you may want to | | | | needs change due to the growth of your company, |
| consider hosting it on a cloud platform. | | | | the cloud-based infrastructure can handle that, too. |
| Defining Cloud Computing | | | | And instead of Microsoft Exchange, you can use an |
| Cloud computing is the latest way to host any number | | | | enterprise-class software such as Kerio Connect. You |
| of digital services or resources. The infrastructure | | | | don't need to allocate capital funds to upgrade; the |
| resides in a central location that is accessed via a | | | | service provider does that for you - ensuring that your |
| single point over the internet, precluding the use of | | | | email server software always uses the latest |
| onsite servers. Many companies are now utilizing this | | | | technology. |
| technology because it tends to be cheaper, more | | | | Backing up the data is another thing you need not |
| scalable, and easier to upgrade to the latest level of | | | | worry about when you use a cloud-based system. |
| technology. | | | | The service provider will perform this task |
| Benefits of Using a Cloud for Email Exchange | | | | automatically and keep a certain period of backup |
| Service | | | | data available on their server. No more need to worry |
| The traditional manner of setting up corporate email | | | | about a missed backup or a faulty tape drive. |
| accounts usually involved the installation of a dedicated | | | | There's a reason so many corporations are looking to |
| or semi-dedicated server and installation of Microsoft | | | | cloud platforms to fill their need for resources and |
| Exchange Server software. As previously mentioned, | | | | services. With benefits like these, who would want to |
| this has its risks. In addition, you must keep upgrading | | | | keep the hassle and cost of maintaining their own |
| the software on your own dime. | | | | email server? |