How SharePoint Can Have Your Business Sitting On Cloud Nine

Clouds used to be seen as such negative things - just think of all those songs about leaving the clouds behind you, moving onto something better with a bright clear sky. Nobody liked clouds. They presaged misery and disappointment and, well, rain. Yet suddenly, clouds are exciting, they're the cutting edge of technology, they're a solution to countless IT problems and a boon to internet users everywhere, on all kinds of devices. Suddenly, clouds are nothing but silver lining.

Or rather, not so much clouds as 'the cloud'. Which is, well, what exactly? A cloud in nature is made up of a vast number of individual particles, some of which come down as rain from time to time - and the cloud is made of a vast number of individual files, documents and applications, which can be taken out individually. And, as a metaphor, it's pretty ropey.

Perhaps I can describe it better: my father is a very practical man. He can fix anything, he does a lot of DIY, he's what you might call handy around the house. In his shed, he keeps screws and bolts for every purpose - tremendous quantities, and a vast and ever growing range. If ever he, or I, or anyone in the family needs a bolt or a screw, we can go around and pick what we need.

The cloud is like my father's shed: it's capable of storing innumerable numbers of applications and files that can be individually picked out and used with any computer or mobile device. Whereas Dad's hardware is divided up between many small compartments, the data and software in the cloud is stored on countless servers dotted around the globe - and just as Dad can control who has access to his shed, so server owners can control who has access to the items they have in the cloud.

For everyday private users, this is great - it means being able both to access videos and pictures anywhere, and to use applications without having to purchase and install them on an individual computer. But what does the cloud offer for businesses? There are two big pluses, particularly for the larger organisation: firstly, finding, connecting and working with individuals who have just the right skills for the task in hand; and secondly, always having access to vital documents and data, wherever it may be stored. The tool that gives you control of both of these, while maintaining a level of security that ensures no sensitive information can ever be compromised, is Microsoft SharePoint.

If your organisation is like most, then you'll use Microsoft Office software for some or all of your IT work. If you use it in tandem with SharePoint, staff will be able to access their Office work anywhere in the world, creating and updating files stored centrally. They'll also be able work together - whether just two individuals or a large group - as easily as if they were sat next to each other, however distant from one another they may be; to communicate instantly from within the Office application they're using; and to share calendars to coordinate their working schedules.

Being able to access key data at any time and from any location can also be a great boost for any business. With SharePoint, the documents are able be edited and updated by whoever has permission to do so - while records are kept of what changes have been made, when and by whom. This, coupled with secure connections to the SharePoint server, allows you to always have complete confidence in the integrity of documents that you make available from the cloud.

The cloud has, in recent years, transformed how millions of people use computers and mobile devices - and with Microsoft SharePoint, it can be controlled and utilised for the benefit of your organisation. It's certainly worth considering a short training course to make the most of all that SharePoint can offer your company, and how it can help you gain the greatest possible advantage from cloud technology. And with this technology to hand, your organisation can follow the clouds and still find itself in the sunshine.