Are Local IT Companies Still Necessary With the Emergence of Cloud Computing?

The development of computing never stops - every few months it seems a new type of hardware is released onto the market which is better or more powerful. Similarly, new technologies are developed that on the surface supposedly makes life that much easier. One of the latest and greatest technologies coming to the market is Cloud Computing.

Cloud computing isn't just some flavour of the month either; it really is the next big thing for business as well as individuals. In the future, companies may no longer have to buy hundreds of software licences for each device or keep large servers in-house for all their company data. Instead, they'll be able to utilise the power of the 'cloud'. The real question is with so many services becoming cloud-based, where does this leave your contract with your local IT Company?

The thing with IT is that often you're not just buying a product, but you're investing in a service. What if you don't have time to learn the ins and outs of your new business cloud platform, or you simply don't understand it? What if you're a small business that needs streamlining but doesn't have the personnel available to "play around" with setting up a cloud network all day? This is why your local IT Company is still very much a crucial business partner.

If you're not the most proficient IT person in the world, or your company isn't yet big enough to warrant its own in-house IT, then the chances are you'll need to outsource. From this point of view, it still makes perfect sense to pick a local provider as there's always the chance you'll need someone to come over and sort an issue out in person. The thing with the Cloud is that if your internet service isn't up to scratch that could pretty much be it for the day! At least with a local provider of IT services, you have the opportunity to get things up and running again.

Lastly, just because Cloud Computing is the next big thing, does that mean your business will lose out by not taking part now? The answer to that is a categorical no - many businesses will survive perfectly well without it, and many could do without the additional expense of online storage. Either way, an IT solutions provider will be able to assess your business needs and help you make the most of your current setup, cloud computing or no. They can also make improvements to the running of your software, give advice and help with anything you don't understand, install solutions you may never have thought of and introduce your system to the world of cloud computing once you're good and ready.

The benefits of using local IT services are numerous: you get a perfectly running system, installations completed whenever required, and a peace of mind that comes from knowing your IT system is secure. Whether the same can be said of cloud computing for business remains to be seen, but business is business at the end of the day, so you shouldn't change your formula yet if it is a winning one right now.