VIENNA, Va. (PRWEB) August 07, 2014 -- Cetrom Information Technology, Inc. (Cetrom), an industry-leading provider of custom cloud solutions that transform the way associations and nonprofits succeed, offers five tips for associations to consider when moving to the cloud. Developed by Cetrom’s president and CEO, Christopher Stark, these tips focus on vital factors that can ensure a successful cloud deployment. Cetrom executives will be available to discuss these tips at booth #429 during the ASAE Annual Meeting & Expo 2014, Aug. 9-11, 2014, in Nashville.
Below are five tips from Cetrom that every association should examine before choosing a cloud solution.
• Weigh Cost vs. Value: Cloud solutions range in prices from a minor expense to an exorbitant amount each month. The secret is finding the one that is cost effective, meaning the value justifies the cost. Oftentimes, this option will fall in the middle range of pricing, requiring a little more investment than the low-level solutions, but proving that the more expensive options aren’t always the best. Have a budget in mind, but also be flexible. With a quality solution, the extra expense will easily be recouped through increased productivity and efficiency.
• Understand the Security: Protecting critical member information is a top priority for associations, so choose a cloud with three levels of security. Strong physical security includes armed guards, biometrics, pre-approved clearance and restricted access. Optimized logical security incorporates firewalls, virus protection, intruder prevention, encryption and user-defined permissions. And “methodological” security considers the human factor and confirms every manual process is approved by multiple cleared users.
• Check References: Checking references is a key component in the decision-making process when evaluating which cloud is best for your organization. Do your due diligence and ask the hard questions when contacting other organizations that have had success with the cloud you’re considering. The associations you solicit for references should be organizations that are similar in size and have similar business goals.
• Confirm Availability of Applications: Associations require a unique set of applications to properly serve their membership, so it’s important to make sure those applications are available in the cloud and offer the same functionality as their traditional on-premise counterparts. With the right cloud, associations should be able to fully utilize applications such as association management software (AMS), learning management systems (LMS), trade show management systems, email marketing, accounting software and more.
• Ensure Interoperability: Associations often struggle with siloed data and applications that are unable to communicate with each other. A top benefit of the cloud is that all data and applications are in one location, so make sure the cloud you choose also enables them to work together—like integration between an AMS and accounting system, or between the member database and email marketing programs. The cloud should break down silos and increase efficiency and productivity for associations.
Christopher Stark, president and CEO, Cetrom, said, “For associations, the cloud can be the key to successfully executing missions and supporting members. However, when implemented improperly, it can be the downfall of an organization. Finding a technology partner that your association can trust is vital to future success and I hope these tips will help all associations make educated and informed decisions when embarking on their next technology investment.”
About Cetrom Information Technology, Inc.
Cetrom Information Technology, Inc. is an industry-leading provider of custom cloud solutions that are backed by high-end technology and support teams who consistently achieve near-perfect satisfaction ratings. The company creates IT solutions to meet specific user, mobile, security and application needs for a variety of SMBs including accounting and CPA firms, associations and nonprofits, law offices, and travel management companies. A Microsoft Partner with multiple Gold Competencies, Cetrom is headquartered in Vienna, Va., with offices and SSAE 16-compliant data centers across the United States. Since its founding in 2001, the cloud computing trailblazer has maintained a spotless track record of zero downtime and was recently named a Cloud Computing Excellence award winner, an Inc. 500l5000 company, one of Virginia’s Fantastic 50, and a Washington Business Journal Best Place to Work. Together with technology partners like Citrix, Dell, EMC2, Lenovo and CenturyLink, Cetrom is evolutionizing IT. Learn more at http://www.cetrom.net.
Liz Palm, DPR Group, http://www.cetrom.net, +1 (240) 686-1000, [email protected]
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