Need remote access? Microsoft Office 365 + Azure = the perfect work-from-home solution

Work from anywhere and at any time, even when disaster hits

While the digital economy has been growing since the emergence of laptop computers, mobile technology and 4G internet, there’s never been such a high demand for remote access as there is today. In my earlier article, I covered the importance of continuity and the cloud i.e. being ready to respond during the COVID-19 crisis. In this article, I’m going to talk about remote access.

In the United States, 80 million residents have felt the effect of the COVID-19 outbreak. In the rapid unfolding of unprecedented events, virtually everything from schools to retailers, leisure facilities and commercial offices have come to a grinding halt. Worldwide, it is being mandated that people practice ‘social distancing’ by working from home, resulting in a mass exodus for the home office.

As a result, a huge upturn in video conferencing, live streaming, distance learning and online gaming has accelerated the adoption of cloud-based services. For example, Microsoft cited that the number of daily active users of its Teams platform rose 37.5 percent to 44 million in just one week. These numbers prove that cloud computing is no longer a ‘nice to have’ but rather, an essential for running any business or enterprise without disruption. Without doubt, working remotely will now take a rapid upturn for small-to-medium-sized businesses.

The cloud is an investment, not a quick fix Band-Aid

Firstly, let’s be clear: the backbone of your operations – everything from quoting and estimating to communication, file sharing, storage, customer databases, business development and security – hangs on your cloud service. While there are thousands of cloud hosting providers you can choose from, take note: you get what you pay for. In other words, cheap as chips = not such great service and support. I like to think of it this way: imagine purchasing a brand-new Tesla but asking your mechanic to install crappy used parts bought from eBay. It makes no sense at all!

I cannot urge this enough: don’t cut corners when it comes to selecting a quality service provider. If you try to do cloud on the cheap, it will eat into your revenue and you’ll end up paying for it in the long run. Save valuable time and money by finding a trustworthy and supportive cloud services provider and keep them accountable to their promises.

World-leading applications for business continuity

Once you’ve chosen a cloud hosting provider, what’s the next step? Finding productivity apps that are essential for business continuity and work-from-home connectivity. Luckily, Microsoft is leading the way when it comes to cloud-based applications. Microsoft Office 365 is used by government, corporations and NGO’s worldwide, with 595,000 companies in the USA utilizing it. (Remember, this is just the number of companies – the total number of licensed users would exceed millions!)

I believe Office 365 is a trusted service that anybody can use – student/teacher, employer/employee and business owner. Office 365 is engineered for seamless remote access at any time and from almost anywhere. Core apps within the suite include Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook, all accessible from the cloud for fast word processing, calculating, presenting and emailing.

Since the news of COVID-19, there’s also been an increase in remote learning requiring online collaboration tools for connection and communication. Office 365 includes OneDrive for Business, SharePoint Online, Microsoft Teams, Yammer, Skype for Business and a host of other apps for groups and teams. This is perfect for online meetings and file sharing, all made possible from your home.

Invest in a platform that 80% of Fortune 500 companies trust

Many large organizations are going through the process of digital transformation. One key deliverable in mind is remote working, where servers are owned and operated from an office space but can be accessed via VPN. Staff can work from home, during transit and while away on a business trip. Once set-up properly, VPN makes remote working fast and efficient. However, what about small-to-medium-sized enterprises that aren’t ready for that kind of set-up?

Owned by Microsoft, Azure is a great start for business owners that haven’t previously considered a fully integrated cloud infrastructure platform. Without getting into tech talk, Azure provides multiple features that can be configured to the exact needs of your business with minimal tweaks. Everything from servers and storage (including database and files) can be accessed from anywhere. Once set-up, you’re good to go!

Azure is a perfect off-the-shelf infrastructure solution that not only houses your applications (e.g. Office 365, Quickbooks, On Screen Takeoff, Sage, Quick Bid) but also allows regular back-ups and file recovery. You can also extend your existing infrastructure with Azure so you have a hybrid cloud solution. Whether you move entirely to Azure or choose hybrid, the important thing is you have seamless integration between the server, storage, applications and security, plus remote access.

Start your cloud computing conversation today

You may be asking yourself, “Am I too late to take advantage of the cloud?” Most definitely not. Get the ball rolling and start a discussion with your IT vendor. Focus on a business continuity plan whereby cloud computing is a key element in the strategy. While it is fresh in your mind and continues to be a top priority for the smooth running of your business, learn how you can gain or improve remote access.

Most likely, you’re already engaged with an IT service provider who assists with your local area network, computer breakdowns and general IT issues. My belief is you should continue forward with your IT service provider and Managed Cloud Service provider for support when needed. It is, however, worth asking if they’re familiar with Azure if you’re looking for a platform or software solution (or both).

We are experienced in working with our clients’ IT service provider or internal IT team to educate, support and guide in this area. Across multiple states including New York, Colorado, Virginia and California, we are well-versed in helping small businesses transition to cloud computing. We operate throughout all areas of the United States including Southern California, San Diego, Little Italy and Pacific Beach.

If you have any questions about getting up and running in the cloud so you and your staff can work-from-home, please reach out to me by email sales@aeccloud.com or call (212) 505-0381.

By getting a conversation going today, you can be ready for any critical situation that lay ahead.