OT: Cloud IT structure for a start-up?

Joerg · 2013-09-12T23:43:14+00:00

Folks, Right now we are using an email provider and Dropbox for our start-up company. However, we'd like to get a more integrated solution that has all under one roof and preferably does not engage in vendor-lock. For example, a solution that requires MS-Outlook is not a good solution. What we need: 1. Email for a few guys. Accessible also from the road via laptop or smart phones. 2. Calendar and task sync'ing. I am not such a fan of that since I perfer paper for this but the others would like it. 3. Web site hosting. 4. File storage and collaboration in an organized fashion, automatic backups and all that. Access possible via smart phones. 5. Secure (encrypted) data transfer between server and our computers. 6. Automatic backups, including a routing option for that to one of our computers. 7. The whole thing needs to be controllable for setup and changes by people with limited or almost no IT know-how. 8. No onerous requirements on the PCs such as Java, Active-X or wide permissions for auto-updates. I've looked at a few packages such as these: Microsoft seems expensive and you get sort of a leased access to their office suite. That probably justifies the high price but we don't need it and we do not want to pay monthly leases for people who never use it. Also, they seem to require MS-Outlook and that's a non-starter. As for 1&1 I use one of their smaller web hosting deals sind about a decade, happy with it. But I don't know how easily sich a big system is maintainable by non-IT guys such as me. Any comments? Other ideas? -- Regards, Joerg

Sep 12, 2013 22 Replies

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Joerg 13 years ago

Thanks. "Call sales rep for pricing" usually means $$$ but a quick glance around the web seems to hint that pricing could be reasonable:

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But support seems not so great and no encryption. The latter would be a show stopper for us.

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Regards, Joerg http://www.analogconsultants.com/

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Joerg 13 years ago

The only time I had to deal with an IT department was at my last employer. When I saw the head of IT cruise up on a fairly loud Harley-Davidson I knew things would be alright. And they were, we had the best and most efficient IT I could wish for.

Regards, Joerg http://www.analogconsultants.com/

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