Sunshine beyond the clouds

Mit Patel states where he sees the opportunities for VARs in cloud implementation

Patel: Try a little piece, then get complex

Cloud computing is upon us. Conscious of the financial strain our customers are under, we started looking at cloud services to address the constraints on capex.

Our customers want to grow their operations to stay ahead but don’t have the spending power they once had. Reliable and scalable IT is essential to business growth, but without the cash, it sounds like mission impossible.

IT services deployed from the cloud can give businesses that much-needed flexibility in terms of cost and infrastructure.

For the channel, cloud can complement other services such as IT consultancy and help build a stronger relationship with your customers. In our experience of using hosted virtual desktops, we spend more time focusing on our own support services.

We no longer have to spend time on cumbersome desktop management tasks such as patching. More important and higher-margin services such as connectivity, backup and web hosting get our fullest attention.

There is a fear that business will be lost to cloud services providers. Much like any business decision, you need to consider carefully before moving in any direction. And you can start by trying a little piece, before moving completely into the cloud.

Cloud services should not be viewed as a threat to your business. You don’t have to suddenly throw away all the things you’re good at doing – far from it. Instead, select a provider that will help you expand your product range with limited spend and risk.

By being able to immediately offer a much wider portfolio of services, you can improve your customer relationships and options. And if you don’t jump on board now, you’re in danger of being left behind.

Mit Patel is managing director of NetStar