Cloud computing has become the rage in businesses large and small. Think about it. All your data at your fingertips whenever and wherever you need it. All it takes is a fast, reliable, consistent internet connection.

The dictionary defines Cloud Computing as “the practice of using a network of remote servers hosted on the Internet to store, manage, and process data, rather than a local server or a personal computer.”

Remotely store, manage and process data. Fantastic. Technology has sure come a long way from the floppy disk. Businesses no longer need to install, configure, run or secure in-house network servers. What a blessing. What a boon to a small to medium size company (SMB – the tech world is very high on the use of acronyms, IDK why).

All this new, innovative technology is built to help companies run more efficiently, cut costs, streamline production and better concentrate on the business at hand. Sales, marketing, manufacturing, deliverables, customer service, accounts receivable. In other words, the bottom line.

Here’s the problem. All of this new-age technology. All the advanced programs and protocols. All the ways cloud services can help any business become more successful. And all rely on your internet connection.

Now we’re not saying that’s a bad thing. It’s certainly the wave of the future. It’s already a proven business model that works. Next week we’ll talk more about cloud services and how IaaS, PaaS and SaaS are changing the way SMB’s do business and stay ahead of the curve.

But there are going to be times when your internet connection is down, or too slow, and you curse the day you put all your data, all your applications and all your faith in cloud services.

It’ll be that day when you wish you had something, anything backed up on a flash drive sitting in a drawer somewhere in the office. The day you long for that dinosaur network server sitting in what is now the janitor’s closet.

The technologies behind video streaming services like Hulu, Netflix and Amazon Prime have become so advanced that many homeowners are telling the overpriced cable providers to take a hike. They can watch their favorite programs and live events on everything from a television to a refrigerator. Until their internet goes down. Then the Slingers are looking for something else to do on Saturday night. And wishing they didn’t get rid of their DVD player at the last garage sale.

If your company is embracing cloud computing, good. You should. Just remember, the only way to know that your internet is working the way it needs to in order to take advantage of that technology, is to put a system in place to monitor your network’s performance. And have a performance history that will help your IT guy fix any problem quickly.