Cloud4SMB Conference Proves Helpful in Navigating SMBs through Cloudy Transitions

For small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) with limited resources, moving their current systems and communication platforms to the cloud can be intimidating.

This week in Miami, Florida, the Cloud4SMB Conference, collocated with ITEXPO, sets out to educate attendees on how to make the transition to cloud-based solutions a seamless one, and what to do to keep the process as efficient and productive as possible post-implementation.

Today, the first day of the conference included an agenda packed with an impressive lineup of sessions and panelists that really set the stage in terms of the essential basics for what is necessary for a cloud implementation. 

The first session of the day, “Why SMBs Need the Cloud Now More Than Ever,” explored business critical factors to consider before making the move to the cloud, such as selecting the right provider, addressing the issue of security head on and obtaining as much visibility into your customer base as possible. Panelists included speakers from AppDirect, Phone.com, Cisco and IntelliCom Analytics. As Paul Arnautoff, AppDirect, put it, a number of companies are moving too fast too quick. His advice? “Let’s crawl before we walk.” And he couldn’t be more spot on.

The following sessions focused on Cloud Services Brokerage, best practices for migration, delivering your IT through the cloud and how to support the independent worker in a technology driven workforce. 

Regardless of the topic a conference is revolved around, there are always one or two trends that are currently prevalent in the market, that remain constant and are reiterated in each session.  For today at least, panelists continuously stressed the importance of solidifying beneficial partnerships and striving for providing interoperable offerings as the biggest drivers behind cloud for SMB success.

Stay tuned for more updates from the Cloud4SMB Conference happening this week on MSPToday.  Thursday, the second day of the conference, will provide insight into topics such as the future of cloud-based telephony, next generation user-generated customization, the mobility model and how to select and execute a successful implementation.