If you answered, “not so well,” you’re actually far ahead of many of your competitors.

How so? Well, most companies just set up their backup processes, assume they’re running correctly, and forget about them. And then when disaster strikes, they discover that the data they need to recover actually isn’t on their backup tape or disk.

It’s only by testing your backups that you can determine how effectively they’re running. So if you’ve noticed that your backups aren’t actually copying all of your critical data, at least you’re paying attention to what’s going on! And you’ll probably be interested in an easier, less expensive way of doing things.

Explore Cloud-Based Backups
Even the best-planned data backup program is only effective in theory. If it’s not automated, it will remain vulnerable to human error and neglect. And if it’s not tested, you’ll never be sure that it’s actually working. In either case, one power surge or natural disaster could wipe out servers and backup systems alike – leaving you with no data and little chance of a full recovery.

That’s why it’s probably time for small and midsized businesses (SMBs) to start looking beyond tape backups. Although tapes give companies an affordable, relatively reliable way to back up their corporate data, they leave too much to chance. Tapes can easily get lost, get damaged, or just plain fail.

Cloud-based remote backup services, on the other hand, present a much more trusted option that can easily fit the budget of most SMBs. Cloud backup services can back up your data automatically without disrupting your company’s workflow or adding to your IT team’s workload. They eliminate the need for you and your staff to spend hours labeling, filing, and storing tapes.

Take the Hassle and Risk out of Data Backups
Ah, but it’s not enough to set up a cloud-based backup and forget about it. Instead, work with backup experts who can stay on top of testing and help you map out a plan for meeting your evolving backup needs as your company grows. Ideally, your backup partner will be able to encrypt your data before it is transmitted and then back it up to their own secure data center.

During your next crisis, wouldn’t it be great to be able to restore your data online – in minutes – rather than waiting for backup tapes to be delivered? To learn more about how you can benefit from cloud-based backup services – and four other emerging technology trends – request our free white paper: “SMB IT: Five Ways to Get More From Your Investment.”

Then again, there’s a good chance you’ve already decided you can’t benefit from the cloud because you don’t have 10,000 employees, multi-billion-dollar revenues, or vast server farms.

The truth lies somewhere in between.

Regardless of the size of your company, cloud computing won’t completely eliminate your need to run servers or install applications. But the benefits of cloud computing can and do apply to organizations in virtually every industry and at every revenue level.

Leading Cloud Solutions for SMBs
What are some of the cloud solutions that can save you time and money by reducing your hardware footprint and application maintenance burden?

You’ve no doubt heard of Salesforce.com – one of the gold standards of cloud-based software solutions. Salesforce lets thousands of companies enhance their sales force automation and customer relationship management with a solution that’s delivered through a browser. You don’t need hundreds of salespeople to reap the benefits.

There’s also Zendesk – a web-based help desk system that is helping many companies increase the efficiency of their call centers. Zendesk can be a great way to provide better service without adding more agents.

But the cloud solution we’re most excited about for SMBs is Microsoft® Office 365. Actually, we shouldn’t even call Office 365 a solution, because it’s really a range of solutions. Depending on your company’s needs, you can use Office 365 to move your email to the cloud, connect via presence with Microsoft Lync, or deploy the full Microsoft Office suite to a handful or hundreds of users. In either case, you’ll only pay a flat fee per month.

Your Path to the Cloud
Now, here’s the catch: because cloud-based software solutions are delivered online and you simply pay a fee to gain access, people often make the mistake of assuming they won’t have to put a lot of thought into their transition to the cloud. IT decision-makers are often tempted to start replacing as much of their installed software as possible with cloud solutions. By doing this, they can begin to generate noticeable savings in a short time. But it’s a short-sighted approach.

To make the best cloud decisions for the long term, you’ll need to consider what your current hardware infrastructure looks like. What software you have installed. And what growth plans your company has. Otherwise, you’ll risk being left with a slick, powerful cloud software solution that doesn’t fit the way you actually work.

But don’t let that discourage you. Just be sure to plan carefully. To learn more about how you can benefit from cloud computing – and four other emerging technology trends – request our free white paper: “SMB IT: Five Ways to Get More From Your Investment.”

Here are three more potential benefits you may not have thought about.

Fight Server Sprawl
Your IT staff can’t innovate if they’re too busy keeping servers running. They can’t research, purchase, and implement the latest technology if they have their hands full just maintaining your infrastructure.

These may sound like problems that only plague large enterprises. But wouldn’t your SMB like to be a large enterprise – or at least a larger one – someday? And if so, wouldn’t you like to avoid building a massive data center any sooner than you absolutely have to?

As your company grows, your IT footprint is likely to grow at the same rate, unless you take proactive steps to keep it in check. Virtualization is one way to deliver the computing resources your organization needs without simply adding rack after rack of physical servers. In the process, you’ll save on power, cooling, and maintenance.

Minimize IT Headcount
Fighting server sprawl helps you do more than save money. You’ll also alleviate the intense pressure of constantly needing to add IT staff.

Depending on your company’s current size, your IT staff may be a small team, or perhaps even a single person. One of the advantages of growing your business is the increased ability to attract IT staff who have higher and higher levels of expertise. These are the people who can help your company use technology to your advantage.

But let’s face it: there’s no advantage to be gained from hiring extra IT headcount who do nothing but maintain physical servers. With virtualization, of course, you can host several virtual servers on each physical server, reducing your need to add low-level IT staff. That will free you up to focus on hiring real difference-makers in IT.

Support Green Initiatives
Everywhere you look these days, companies are announcing green initiatives and asking their customers to join them in taking better care of the environment. We don’t question anyone’s genuine concern for our planet, but we’re also well aware that being perceived as a “green” company has definite PR benefits. In light of that – and in light of the fact that government regulations will probably become more stringent over time – companies of all sizes would do well to consider the environmental benefits of virtualization.

The concept is simple: you launch a virtualization initiative, tally up the number of power-hungry boxes you eliminated, and splash the story all over your marketing materials. Be sure to hang onto those “before-and-after” electricity bills – they make great proof points.

That’s Just the Beginning
We could go on and on about the benefits of virtualization for SMBs. But we’d prefer to discuss your specific virtualization goals – and then help you achieve them. Don’t miss out on this wildly successful technology strategy. Call Corporate Technologies at (800) 680-8415 today to request your free virtualization consultation.