Cloud computing

Hands up everyone who knows what cloud computing is. Not many I suspect. Basically, it's taking your data storage and systems online so you don't have to worry about premises, IT admin, overheads etc. You subscribe to online services for monthly subscription fees, buying only what you need, when you need it, and ramping up or down as your business dictates. There are lots of advantages for the smaller business - you can add server storage incrementally for example, or subscribe to hosted CRM (customer relationship management) software if you're initially unsure about whether it will provide business value.  And if you have a fragmented workforce - remote or home-workers - you can collaborate through online workspaces.

I guess it's ‘cloud' because your server and software applications can be anywhere - they don't have a physical location as such. You can find a list of hosted software providers here, in our How-to-buy section.  And there's a white paper on the benefits of hosted CRM here.