JVN Blog

This blog was originally posted by Andrea at SAM UK and when we saw this we thought we must share it with you all. As an organisation that has to be at the forefront of technology in order to provide the best service we can to all our charities and all our volunteers, we are strong advocates of the cloud and can relate to this blog because it says how important it will be to the future operation of charities. 

With cloud technologies becoming increasingly prevalent in the technology and information industry and Microsoft’s latest offerings Windows 8 and Microsoft Office 2013 integrating cloud functionality, more and more charities are developing an understanding of the file storage solution and benefiting from cloud services.

The Guardian predicts that within two years, all services will be cloud-based. It’s time that charities start taking advantage of the low-cost solution that was developed to aid people share information with ease, collaborate in a “virtual office” and keep your files safe from data security threats and data losses.

Read our top reasons why charities should be embracing the benefits of cloud technology:

• Cost Effective: Cloud-based solutions are free or low cost to access such as the built in SkyDrive when you install Windows 8 or Microsoft Office 2013.
• Collaboration: Availing of cloud services promotes collaboration and connectivity between you, your employees and colleagues and your donors. For example, you can send a link to a document in your SkyDrive and give multiple users the authority to edit and re-save the file.
• Mobility: Saving files to the cloud means that you can access important documents whether you are in the office or on-the-go fundraising while using a mobile device
• Security: The core reason why many organisations are taking advantage of cloud technologies is due to data being protected from threat of data threats or losses. Cloud users can rest safe in the knowledge that if they lose their USB or laptop, their documents will still be accessible via cloud support. This point is especially relevant for charities with sensitive financial and personal information about donors and the people they help.

Gareth Jones of Civil Society Media said in the Charity IT survey: “The most hyped technology of recent years is of course the cloud, and this year’s survey provides a clear indication that charities are continuing to get on board, with more than a quarter now using some form of software-as-a-service”.

The cloud can help smaller charities work in a more effective and efficient way. To find out more about JVN’s cloud computing partner check out Workplace Live for more information on how Cloud Computing can help your organisation.