Doherty Associates Target SMEs With Low-Cost Cloud

Doherty Associates has launched a product aimed at getting recession-hit SMEs into the cloud at low cost. The CloudToo package is aimed at companies with between five and 25 users.

For a fixed monthly fee of £599 plus VAT, the package comprises the latest hardware, cloud software and security, plus unlimited support. The company claimed this was much lower than typical costs of a similar five-user package offered elsewhere for around £20,000.

Feasibility audit

Customers have to complete a free CloudToo feasibility audit. Once that has been done, Doherty deploys a new HP server on their premises. This, it said, would enables them to run their existing application software such as accounts and payroll without the data having to leave their offices or the need to fund the purchase of the server itself.

Customers can also access the latest versions of Microsoft Office Professional Plus with Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher and OneNote through the cloud. Also included are Access, InfoPath, Lync, and SkyDrive Pro.

The price covers an integrated wireless controller protected by a firewall, together with the latest anti-virus, anti-spyware and anti-malware software. There is also full application control to prevent misuse of applications such as Facebook, Twitter and Skype. There is also comprehensive web filtering to avoid disruption from malicious emails, for those who wish to use it.

Should clients require additional users, over and above their initial CloudToo commitment, they can be added at £59 plus VAT per user for anywhere between the £599 entry point for five users and the upper 25 user limit. Beyond this, Doherty can recommend a range of other custom packages to suit even the fastest growing organisations.

CloudToo’s product marketing manager Faye Eldridge said the package will be a “breath of fresh air” for those SMEs that have survived the recent adverse economic conditions.

“The recession has left many smaller organisations in a position where they need to upgrade their IT equipment to improve reliability and productivity but the ability to finance the significant costs of a full technology refresh is just not there,” she said. “By going down the hybrid cloud route, we are taking the pain away and delivering what is in effect a big company IT package at small company price all backed by unlimited support.”