Basics of cloud-based management

When I first heard the term “cloud-based network management” years ago, I pictured a storm cloud hovering over an office building, throwing lightning bolts into the computers.

There are all kinds of cloud-managed systems out there…

Everything from your onsite computers to your building’s HVAC system can use this tech, so application-specific details do change.

But the idea is simple:

We know the internet allows us to communicate to anything connected to it.

Well, engineers looked at network hardware and realized, “Hey, let’s build our routers and switches so they can be programmed and watched over remotely!”

So when you as a business owner install cloud-managed devices, you’re using a device designed specifically to be managed remotely.

And that’s the most important concept – remote management.

This gives you, the business owner, the ability to save a TON of money.

How?

You don’t need a network admin on your payroll!

Instead, you can contract with a cloud-based services company to install the equipment and then remotely maintain it.

(Even large companies with several campuses have remote management contracts – even though they obviously have IT staff, they are able to rely on more of the “jack of all trades” IT guy, since the specialties are taken care of.)

Also, many of the normal cloud-managed devices have robust troubleshooting features.

They can alert the admin company if a computer goes down, if the wifi is hacked, even diagnose cable issues!

This technology has sliced down the amount of IT professionals the standard company needs in-office, and with the Covid economy still churning forward, this trend won’t go away soon.