When Google introduced Chromebooks in May 2011 as the first cloud-based computers, they gave businesses the opportunity to further increase productivity and security and lower IT costs, all by moving completely to the cloud.
Chromebooks for Business operate entirely within the Google Chrome web browser, giving employees quick and easy access to the Google cloud network. Simply sign onto a Chromebook with a Google account, and the entire web is at your fingertips.
Adding Chromebooks, which are available in two models - one from Acer and one from Samsung, to your business will increase your productivity, enhance the security of your computing system, and lower your IT costs.
Once an employee turns on a Chromebook, the computer will be connected through the internet (through automatic Wi-Fi or optional 3G service) in a mere eight seconds. In addition to the lightning-fast start up, Chromebooks also have tools like instant resume and battery power to last an entire day that will work to improve the productivity of your employees.
Chromebooks differ from traditional computers because they run entirely in the cloud. This means that they do not have an internal hard drive. Instead, Chromebooks store all information, including data and settings, in the Google cloud network, not on the computer itself. Because of this, employees can access the data from their Chromebook on any web-enabled device simply by signing into their Google account. This cloud storage also means that your business will not have to worry about migrating data from one device to another.
Applications that your business needs to operate are available through the Chrome Web Store. However, if the program you’re looking for isn’t one of the millions currently available, the Chrome Web Store also offers custom-built applications. Even if your business runs on a program that, for some reason, simply can not be made to run within the web browser, you can still make use of it on Chromebooks. In this case, your business can use the desktop virtualization technology to run the program on your Chromebooks.
In addition to increasing productivity, Chromebooks for Business also work to maintain the security of your business’ information. Chromebooks use various layers of defense to protect your business’ valuable data from viruses and malware. The first of these layers is known as the “sandbox.” The sandbox works by running each tab in a confined environment, or sandbox, so that any potential virus or malware is contained within this tab and does not spread elsewhere on the Chromebook. The Verified Boot feature backs up the sandbox by running a self-check every time an employee turns on a Chromebook. This self-check will notice the presence of any malware and repair the damage automatically.
Other security features of Chromebooks come into play to protect the privacy of your business’ information. The Data Encryption feature guarantees that all data put into a Chromebook is encrypted with tamper-resistant hardware or stored securely in Google’s cloud network. While the Data Encryption feature protects your business’ data from virtual theft, the cloud-based design of Chromebooks protects your data from physical theft. Because Chromebooks lack an internal hard drive, nothing is physically stored on the computers themselves. This means that, should one of your business’ Chromebooks be stolen or physically damaged, your information remains secure and in tact.
The overall cost of owning Chromebooks only add to the benefits that these computers have to offer businesses. Chromebooks for Business can be purchased for $28/Chromebook/month. This price includes complete Google support, operating system and hardware, and a cloud-based management system. Not only is the initial purchasing cost of Chromebooks low, but so are the upkeep costs. Chromebooks receive automatic updates to their system and applications every time they are turned on, meaning that they will never fall behind on technology. These updates eliminate your business’ need to exert time and money on upgrading, imaging, patching, and repairs. The web-based management console will decrease IT costs even further. This easy-to-use tool allows system administrators to update restricted log-ins, themes and apps, and settings on all company Chromebooks. Put together, these savings mean that Chromebooks can cost as much as 70% less than traditional computers.
Chromebooks for Business will not only increase productivity and security and decrease IT expenses, they will also ensure that your business runs on the latest technology. Given these benefits, it’s time to consider moving your business completely into the cloud with Chromebooks.
This blog post is brought to you by Cloud Sherpas. Cloud Sherpas is a leading Google Apps cloud service provider. As a Google Apps Authorized Reseller and Google Enterprise partner, we have migrated over one million users across all major industries from legacy, on-premise messaging systems to Google Apps, helping organizations adopt cloud computing to innovate and dramatically reduce their IT expenses. Get to know our company by checking out our Google+ page at cloudsherpas.com/plus.
