Cbeyond (Nasdaq: CBEY) is enhancing its cloud service offerings for SMBs by adding virtual and managed dedicated servers to customers in the U.S. and over 60 other countries.
Available through all of its sales channels, the extension of the server solutions is one of the first new developments to come out of Cbeyond's acquisition of cloud provider MaximumASP last November.
While there are still numerous concerns with cloud services, including security, SMBs are seeing the benefit of putting their data and day-to-day applications (word processing) into the cloud. By adopting a cloud-based service, an SMB can put the burden of managing necessary server, operating systems and even anti-virus monitoring onto the service provider.
Cbeyond may be making an aggressive push into the cloud market, but certainly not alone. Traditional ILECs (AT&T, Qwest and Verizon), while traditionally focused on serving the large enterprise customers, are also turning their attention to delivering cloud services to SMBs. Recent examples of this include Verizon's introduction of cloud-based unified communications and collaboration (UC&C) capabilities in partnership with Microsoft.
According to a recent study by AMI-Partners, 38 percent of U.S. SMBs say they are willing to purchase IT products & services (including hardware and software) from telecommunications service providers. Already having a relationship with the SMB for traditional voice or even broadband, it could be easier for some SMBs to just adopt the telco's cloud service versus going with another provider.
Despite the telco's ongoing interest in delivering cloud-based services, Cbeyond's cloud service message will continue to resonate with SMBs that have decided to cut the ILEC cord and go with a provider that specializes in providing solutions catered to their diverse needs.
For more:
- see the release
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