CLOUD WORKS?? Let's say you're an executive at a large corporation.

Your particular responsibilities include making sure that all of your employees have the right hardware and software they need to do their jobs. Buying computers for everyone isn't enough -- you also have to purchase software or software licenses to give employees the tools they require. Whenever you have a new hire, you have to buy more software or make sure your current software license allows another user. It's so stressful that you find it difficult to go to sleep on your huge pile of money every night. Soon, there may be an alternative for executives like you. Instead of installing a suite of software for each computer, you'd only have to load one application. That application would allow workers to log into a Web-based service which hosts all the programs the user would need for his or her job. Remote machines owned by another company would run everything from e-mail to word processing to complex data analysis programs. It's called cloud computing, and it could change the entire computer industry. In a cloud computing system, there's a significant workload shift. Local computers no longer have to do all the heavy lifting when it comes to running applications. The network of computers that make up the cloud handles them instead. Hardware and software demands on the user's side decrease. The only thing the user's computer needs to be able to run is the cloud computing system's interface software, which can be as simple as a Web browser, and the cloud's network takes care of the rest. There's a good chance you've already used some form of cloud computing. If you have an e-mail account with a Web-based e-mail service like Hotmail, Yahoo! Mail or Gmail, then you've had some experience with cloud computing. Instead of running an e-mail program on your computer, you log in to a Web e-mail account remotely. The software and storage for your account doesn't exist on your computer -- it's on the service's computer cloud.

CLOUD ARCHITECTURE: When talking about a cloud computing system, it's helpful to divide it into two sections: the front end and the back end. They connect to each other through a network, usually the Internet. The front end is the side the computer user, or client, sees. The back end is the "cloud" section of the system. The front end includes the client's computer (or computer network) and the application required to access the cloud computing system. Not all cloud computing systems have the same user interface. Services like Web-based e-mail programs leverage existing Web browsers like Internet Explorer or Firefox. Other systems have unique applications that provide network access to clients.

On the back end of the system are the various computers, servers and data storage systems that create the "cloud" of computing services. In theory, a cloud computing system could include practically any computer program you can imagine, from data processing to video games. Usually, each application will have its own dedicated server. A central server administers the system, monitoring traffic and client demands to ensure everything runs smoothly. It follows a set of rules called protocols and uses a special kind of software called middleware. Middleware allows networked computers to communicate with each other. Most of the time, servers don't run at full capacity. That means there's unused processing power going to waste. It's possible to fool a physical server into thinking it's actually multiple servers, each running with its own independent operating system. The technique is called server virtualization. By maximizing the output of individual servers, server virtualization reduces the need for more physical machines. If a cloud computing company has a lot of clients, there's likely to be a high demand for a lot of storage space. Some companies require hundreds of digital storage devices. Cloud computing systems need at least twice the number of storage devices it requires to keep all its clients' information stored. That's because these devices, like all computers, occasionally break down. A cloud computing system must make a copy of all its clients' information and store it on other devices. The copies enable the central server to access backup machines to retrieve data that otherwise would be unreachable. Making copies of data as a backup is called redundancy.

CLOUD COMPUTING APPLICATIONS: The applications of cloud computing are practically limitless. With the right middleware, a cloud computing system could execute all the programs a normal computer could run. Potentially, everything from generic word processing software to customized computer programs designed for a specific company could work on a cloud computing system. Why would anyone want to rely on another computer system to run programs and store data? Here are just a few reasons:

Clients would be able to access their applications and data from anywhere at any time. They could access the cloud computing system using any computer linked to the Internet. Data wouldn't be confined to a hard drive on one user's computer or even a corporation's internal network. It could bring hardware costs down. Cloud computing systems would reduce the need for advanced hardware on the client side. You wouldn't need to buy the fastest computer with the most memory, because the cloud system would take care of those needs for you. Instead, you could buy an inexpensive computer terminal. The terminal could include a monitor, input devices like a keyboard and mouse and just enough processing power to run the middleware necessary to connect to the cloud system. You wouldn't need a large hard drive because you'd store all your information on a remote computer.

Corporations that rely on computers have to make sure they have the right software in place to achieve goals. Cloud computing systems give these organizations company-wide access to computer applications. The companies don't have to buy a set of software or software licenses for every employee. Instead, the company could pay a metered fee to a cloud computing company. Servers and digital storage devices take up space. Some companies rent physical space to store servers and databases because they don't have it available on site. Cloud computing gives these companies the option of storing data on someone else's hardware, removing the need for physical space on the front end. Corporations might save money on IT support. Streamlined hardware would, in theory, have fewer problems than a network of heterogeneous machines and operating systems. If the cloud computing system's back end is a grid computing system, then the client could take advantage of the entire network's processing power. Often, scientists and researchers work with calculations so complex that it would take years for individual computers to complete them. On a grid computing system, the client could send the calculation to the cloud for processing. The cloud system would tap into the processing power of all available computers on the back end, significantly speeding up the calculation.

Concern/: Perhaps the biggest concerns about cloud computing are security and privacy. The idea of handing over important data to another company worries some people. Corporate executives might hesitate to take advantage of a cloud computing system because they can't keep their company's information under lock and key.

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7 Reasons Small Businesses Switch to Cloud Based Software

Small business owners often have big dreams. Whether that dream is to keep your business small or to grow it into a big business, you want your business to run as smoothly as possible - every step of the way. You might start your business as a sole proprietor with just a laptop and a few software programs. As your business grows and

adds employees, you have to start thinking about security, backup, remote access, and coordination of effort. One of the reasons small businesses switch to cloud-based software is to reap the benefits of big business infrastructure, without having to implement and manage it directly. Until recently, your software and servers almost always resided in your office, where they would be administered by your IT staff. This type of deployment is referred to as "on premise." In the last several years, "cloud based" software has become more popular. Cloud based software (also called cloud computing) enables companies to access software and servers located in a secure data center, maintained by the software provider. These free or subscriber-based services are delivered in real time over the Internet. Your Microsoft Hotmail or Live account is an example of cloud-based email. Business users might be familiar with Microsoft's Business Productivity Online Standard Suite, which offers a subscription-based suite of Microsoft-hosted, online applications that include: Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, Live Meeting, and Office Communications Online. Because applications and documents are no longer stored on your personal computer, your data is more accessible to others in your office. Small businesses are finding the many attributes of cloud computing very attractive. Here are seven reasons why: 1. Cloud computing can improve employee productivity. Using tools like Online Exchange and SharePoint, employees can easily access documents and emails while away from the office. Many small businesses have employees working remotely, and need both mobility and flexibility. Cloud computing is a straightforward and affordable way of addressing those needs, especially when you are using intuitive, familiar software that your employees already know. 2. Cloud computing reduces upfront costs. Choosing a cloud-based solution for such things as email, document sharing, and web conferencing reduces the upfront cost associated with starting a business. There are no servers to buy. The cloud-based subscription model allows small businesses to easily increase or decrease their use of cloud services according to their needs. 3. Cloud computing boosts collaboration.Employees everywhere can access and work with the same files in real time - no more emails back and forth with attachments to open. Better collaboration improves productivity and creativity.

4. Cloud computing provides business resiliency.Numerous studies have shown that more than 50% of small businesses will go out of business within a year of a major data loss. In a cloud environment, if you lose your laptop - or worse, your whole office - you can get back to business in no time. All your business information and files are securely in place. 5. Cloud computing is easy. The transfer of business information into "the cloud" is very straightforward. No need to install new hardware or software; no IT administration. It is often seamless to the user. Saving a document to a Microsoft Sky Drive is the same process as saving it to a hard drive. No training is required. 6. Cloud computing is accessible. Offering easy access and file sharing from any Internet connection, cloud computing allows employee access via smart phone or computer. 7. Cloud computing is secure. In fact, cloud computing can be more secure than a traditional IT infrastructure. Cloud computing providers like Microsoft build multiple levels of security and redundancy into their data centers. The great thing about cloud computing is that it's not an all-or-nothing proposition. Even if you already have servers and an IT staff, you can pick just one application that you think would be better served in the cloud. You might decide that since your sales force is remote, you'll invest in Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online to manage your sales and marketing processes - but you'll keep your Exchange Server deployment in house. With few exceptions, a mix and match of in-house and cloud-computing software works just great!

3 best SAAS MGMT Softwares:

SaaS document management is beginning to see a lot of use, and people will, in a very short period of time, forget that it wasnt around a few years prior. Synchronous interaction with an online environment between disparate users isnt a completely new thing, with instant messaging, gaming and other things having been around for a long time. A few ISPs experimented with tandem cursor browsing in the late 1990s as well, but even when true desktop interaction over remote became powerful and supported by better bandwidth, there was no real system where users could edit a document simultaneously and effectively live-share it in a file system.

Well, SaaS document management software resolved this, and there are a lot of services out there to choose from. So, Ill take a look at a few that I find outstanding, and that I think you will too. Youve heard of these, but perhaps chose to overlook them, or didnt really know what they were at the time. #1 Google Drive Google is good, nobodys going to argue otherwise. Theyve blossomed from a simple but powerful search engine provider to a multi-faceted software powerhouse that practically defined SaaS and all but invented document management as well. Google Docs was the original moniker of this service, wherein people could edit documents in a Word-like interface in their browser, and save it to their account. They could then download it as an Office compliant file, or share it with other Google users, who could be given permission to view only, or to edit. When multiple users viewed it simultaneously, with edit permissions, they could simultaneously see each others cursors, and type in the document. Google Drive swallowed this, expanding on the filesystem and editing capabilities. The amazing thing is that if you dont mind a slightly small amount of space, this thing is free! #2 Central Desktop Central Desktop followed Google Drive by further defining what document management was all about. This system is geared for a wide array of professional purposes including accounting, education, finance, legal, industrial and just about anything else thats mostly standard. It uses SQL and is flexible enough for a wide range of business scopes and sizes, and has utmost security. Its a little expensive at $90/month, but its well worth it for the proper organization, sharing, editing and distribution of important protocol documents and business data. #3 Cintas Cintas is a multi-service professional company providing human resources, accounting, and now also document management SaaS platforms as well. This is similar to Central Desktop, but offers the power of a ton more languages, and several templates and protocols for extra document types, like real estate and medical. Its pricier, but its worth the expense if you want to really get the most bang for your buck. So, we see that SaaS document management evolved from a shared file system and editing capacity in a pretty raw form, to a refined, task-oriented type of software, which highly experienced professional companies then went on to refine further, into a very standard and widely-developed new software industry.

DocumentMall (SaaS document management) o Software as a Service (SaaS) Defined o Secure StorageHIPAA and Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) Compliant o Document Management o Industry Solutions o Accounts Payable Solution Software Solutions o Print&Share (Output Management and Security) o GlobalScan (Document capture & Distribution software)

SAAS (documentmall)
Ricohs Document Management Service
DocumentMall is Ricohs Software as a Service (SaaS) document storage and management solution in the "cloud" that gives organizations the ability to store, retrieve, manage and share electronic files and scanned paper documents using the Internet

About DocumentMall

Highly secure enterprise class document management functionality designed for small to medium sized businesses and departmental work groups.

Hosted, managed and supported by Ricoh at an SSAE 16 compliant data center.

Enables authorized users to access information anytime, anywhere using a device that is most convenient - a computer, MFP, smart phone and tablets.

Integrates with Ricoh MFPs, scanning and capture software and line of business applications to improve the flow of information throughtout the organization.

Affordabl, scalable and immediately deployable solution for businesses of any size.

Major Applications

Paper intensive, regulated industries.

Departmental workgroups.

Document Archiving - store and retrieve scanned paper documents.

Document Management - organize documents by type, use indexing and full text search.

Document Distribution - simple, secure way to share documents using the Internet.

Document Collaboration - work on documents together, mark-up and edit versions.

Provides off-site electronic document storage useful for disaster readiness, compliance and archiving.

Benefits

Eliminate the time and expense to find, copy, package and ship documents overnight

Provide immediate access to accurate and consistent information through a centralized distribution point.

Improve security and regulatory compliance by controlling and tracking access to documents.

Share and comment on files over the Internet - speed up decisions, reduce overnight shipping.

Improve disaster readiness and business continuity through highly secure off-site storage and remote access to business critical information.

Using DocumentMall

Access documents - by logging into your secure DocumentMall account from a variety of web-enabled devices and applications (pc, smart phones, MFPs)

Documents and files stored on DocumentMall can be accessed by anyone you authorize, including customers, vendors, work-group teams.

Multiple options for uploading documents range from dragging and dropping documents from the desktop to automated solutions supporting volume upload of scanned documents.

Automatic optical character recognition (OCR) enables full text search of information in scanned paper documents.

Multiple search options including full text, file name, and customizable index fields.

Auditing capabilities produce detailed records (audit trail) on each document as well as the entire account.

Email files from DocumentMall to others or send links to download (no attachments)

Formalize the routing of documents for review and approval with DocumentMall Workflow.

Implementing this Solution

Software as a Service - no hardware to buy or servers to maintain, simple to get started, easy to use and support.

Sold as an account subscription package (based on storage, users and functionality required with user and storage upgrades options)

Developed on the EMC Documentum Enterprise Content Management Platform.

Hosted and managed by Ricoh at an SSAE 16 Type II data center provided by Savvis Inc. an industry leader in providing IT infrastruction solutions.

Integration with MFPs via DocumentMall browser firmware for secure and direct scanning to DocumentMall over the internet.

Integrates with a variety of 3rd party document capture solutions.

2048-bit SSL encrypted transmission over the internet.

Scanner and Internet Fax compatibility.

Apps for iPhone, iPad and Android devices.

Professional consulting services, DocumentMall account setup and outsourced document services (such as high-volume scanning) are available

Account Payable (AP Automation):

Take control of your invoices.

Corcentric is a leader in financial process automation, specializing in Accounts Payable automation and imaging, and AP workflow solutions. Thousands of companies rely on Corcentric to streamline their invoicing and payment processes and optimize working capital. Corcentric maximizes ease of use and eliminates the risk of Accounts Payable outsourcing with a configurable, cloud-architected Software as a Service (SaaS) model that incorporates advanced imaging technology, Accounts Payable workflow automation software built on best practices, simple supplier connections, and seamless ERP integration.

Why Corcentric's Accounts Payable automation software stands above the rest.
Corcentric's Accounts Payable solutions are cloud-based, which allows us to configure and deploy your AP automation software within days, not weeks and requires no capital investment so you can realize immediate ROI.