It wasn’t all that long along ago that the word cloud was reserved for conversations about the weather, so you can be forgiven for being a bit hazy on what “The Cloud” is all about.

In a nutshell:

• Cloud computing uses the internet and central remote servers to store and maintain data and applications – rather than a hard drive.
• This means businesses and individuals can access applications from the cloud without having them installed on their device.
• With the cloud, so long as you have an internet connection, you can access your personal files on any device, anywhere.

And, whether you’re familiar with it or not, you’re probably already using the cloud.

• You use cloud computing when you update your Facebook status.
• When you upload photos to Instagram, you’re uploading them to the cloud.
• You’re in the cloud when you do internet banking on your phone.
• Those apps you love so much? Yep. In the cloud.
• Google drive is another cloud-based application.
• Do you subscribe to Netflix? You’re favourite shows are up in the cloud.

“I WANDERED LONELY AS A CLOUD”

The poet William Wordsworth famously used a simile of a cloud to describe his solitary state.

In a similar way, “the cloud” is just a metaphor for the internet – who knew computer engineers could be so poetic?

The term may sound insubstantial, and the cloud can hold a whole heap of information and has the potential to save you a whole heap of money.

WHY YOU SHOULD BE USING THE CLOUD

There are many good reasons to move to the cloud.

Cost saving and profit increasing

• You don’t have to invest in expensive hardware or the staff to maintain it. In fact, you don’t need a very powerful computer or tonnes of GB’s on your phone to run your business in the cloud.
• You don’t buy software, rather you subscribe for access to what you need, when you need it. This means you get all the latest upgrades.
• And, because you’re accessing the best technology, you’re in a better position to compete against other businesses – big and small.

Flexibility

• Cloud-based systems allow you to scale up or down your bandwidth demands.
• It also allows you and your staff to access your files or shared documents anywhere – so long as you have internet access.
• On top of this, you can usually access what you need on any device.

Efficiency

• The fact that you can work from anywhere, anytime will make your business more efficient.
• Staff members who work off-site can access emails, plans or documents, fill in forms and submit applications on the spot.
• In most cases when staff are given the chance to telecommute, at least some of the time, productivity rises.
• You won’t be wasting time, or money, dealing with onsite hardware failures.

Collaboration

• The cloud allows your team members to access, edit (in real time) and share documents from anywhere at any time, leading to better outcomes all round.
• Collaboration between onsite and remote staff or consultants saves time, email chain frustration and is great for document integrity too.

Security and recovery

• The cloud has made reliable disaster recovery a reality for businesses big and small.
• And when you use a cloud-based system, if you or your staff lose a phone or laptop you don’t lose all your important files.
• You can even wipe a lost device remotely.

CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF RAIN

Of course, there’s disadvantages to every technology, including the cloud.

Not all businesses need or even suit the whole gamut of cloud-based options. And, if you do want to embrace it all, you may need bigger and better phone and internet plans.

The big one is that if the internet goes down, or you suddenly find yourself with no service, you can’t access the cloud. But, in my experience, local problems are short lived. What’s more, if the whole thing ever falls apart, and the likes of Amazon, Google and Apple go down, we’ll all be dealing with bigger problems than accessing personal data.

Some people question the security of the cloud, but others think it’s the safest place for their information. It’s certainly got some of the best minds in the business working to keep it that way.

ONLINE INFLUENCE’S CLOUD-BASED APPROACH

You could say that Online Influence has its head in the clouds. Our web servers are cloud-based and we also use:

• G Suite for storing our emails
• Google drive and dropbox for file storage
• iCloud for desktop storage and or backups
• Podio for project management and team communications, and
• Zoom and Podio for client support and communication.

I use a Chrome book when I’m out of the office. This is a new breed of device, primarily designed to be used while connected to the internet, with most applications and documents living in the cloud.

I have to admit I was a little sceptical when I first got it, but I soon realised how handy it was to link to our cloud-based systems. It also allows me to access my Mac desktop from wherever I am (so long as I have an internet connection) or I can hotspot from my phone. Too easy.

NOT SURE WHAT’S RIGHT FOR YOU?

If you’re unsure of how to maximise the benefits of the cloud for your business, the Online Influence team has the insight and the experience to help. Call us today to find out the best solution for you and your business.

Is privacy possible in the online world?

After the recent Cambridge Analytica data scandal, “online privacy” can seem like an impossible dream.

But there are ways to protect your privacy and limit the information you unwittingly share.

Jump to my tips here, or read on to get to grips with what privacy really means in a digital age.

How Facebook users were trumped

We all know platforms like Google and Facebook collect data (hello, targeted pop-up ads), but many have been shocked to learn how seemingly innocuous information can be used to manipulate – not just our buying power – but our opinions and actions.

Facebook confirmed that political consulting company Cambridge Analytica gathered data from up to 87 million users.

They did so by inviting users to download a free personality test – online privacy red flag, right there folks!

While the participants were, strictly speaking, willing, they were also ill-informed. The real kicker, is that the app also harvested data from the test-takers Facebook friends without their consent.

What’s worse, Facebook says it doesn’t know how much, or exactly what, information was shared.

Cambridge Analytica collected the information to develop a software program used in President Trump’s 2016 election campaign. The program allegedly predicted voting patterns and, through micro-targeted ads, influenced voting decisions.

Similar claims have been made around the Brexit vote and recent controversial elections in the Philippines.

THAT COULDN’T HAPPEN TO ME

The unsettling thing about these kinds of social media campaigns is that they’re much, much more subtle than a pop-up ad that follows you round. Rather, they’re a hidden nudge here and there that, over time, direct your attention, shape your opinions and determine your actions.

How can they target you so specifically?

Well, in a previous blog post I talked about how, by analysing 300 of your Facebook likes, an Artificial Intelligence enhanced algorithm can evaluate your character better than your partner.

But, of course, Facebook stores more than your likes. The social media platform has:

• every status update you’ve ever made
• every photograph you’ve posted or been tagged in
• every location you’ve logged on
• every messenger conversation you’ve had, and
• every message you’ve started to type and then deleted…yep, they keep and analyse those words too.

It’s important to remember that Facebook sold data well before it started selling advertising. We shouldn’t be too shocked as they’ve never hidden that fact…but they don’t exactly boast about it either.

It’s also important to remember that all social media platforms and internet browers tout themselves as free platforms. But there is a product for sale – it’s you and your information. As the saying goes “If the product is free, YOU are the product”.

DOES MY ONLINE PRIVACY REALLY MATTER?

As the Cambridge Analytica scandal shows, it isn’t so much that your data is being collected, it’s the technology and architecture that allows two or more data sets to be combined to yield a whole other layer of information.

And, as recent events have illustrated, what researchers are proving and social commentators are saying, is the information we willingly surrender through our Facebook pages and our browsing history could potentially allow corporations and influencers to manipulate us individually.

We live in a world where mass media is being usurped by personal devices on which you get a personally curated version of news and current events. You’ve got no real way to recognise if your feed is leading you, or you’re leading it.

TIPS TO IMPROVE YOUR ONLINE PRIVACY

While it can feel like we’re on an uncontrollable slippery slope, there are simple ways to improve your online privacy and avoid giving too much away.

Think before you click. Sounds obvious, but question why, or even if, a business or other agency need the information they’re asking for.

Another obvious step is to get to know the settings on Facebook and edit them to within an inch of their lives. You may think you’ve already done this but look again. You might be surprised at what you find.

• Privacy – who can see your posts and who can send you friend requests?
• Tagging – who can tag you in a post and can you be tagged without your permission?
• Face recognition – I’ve turned it off and you can too.
• Apps – see which apps, games or websites have access to your Facebook information.

In terms of Apps, you can go through each one and limit the access or turn it off altogether. I was stunned at how much information some of these apps had access to. I have my birthdate hidden, but many apps still had access to that information.

Of course, Facebook isn’t the only nosy kid on the block. Look at all your social media accounts and your Google settings too.

Google have a tool you can use to check all your privacy settings – just search “privacy check-up”.

MORE WAYS TO KEEP THE ONLINE HOUNDS AT BAY

• • Never ever click on social media questionnaires or surveys – they may sound like fun but, as 87 million Facebook users found out, they just want your data.
  • Don’t hand over your date of birth unless it’s relevant and you trust the business – when in doubt, make one up.
  • Don’t give your phone number or address unless you are getting something delivered.
  • Don’t hand over your credit card details to a site that doesn’t have an SSL certificate. It looks like this

• Paypal is a secure option for making online payments and has a great refund policy.
• Don’t login to websites or online shops using social media – create an account the old-fashioned way.
• Use a secure password saving site like LastPass.com however, don’t put your banking details in any password saving tool. Memorise these – think of it as exercising your brain.
• Clear your cache every now and then.

PROTECT YOUR PERSONAL OR BUSINESS INFORMATION

There’s a lot to online privacy, more than I could begin to cover in this blog post. And, like everything in the digital world, change happens fast.

The team at Online Influence keeps up to date with the latest advice around online privacy. We’re happy to talk to you about what you can do to make your information and your business more secure.

Contact us to find out how we can help your business today.

I’ve just spent 2 days at the on the Gold Coast where I got to try out Google Glass at ProBlogger 2013. I have wanted to go to Darren Rowse’s event for several years, but this was the first time I made the effort to go. And boy am I glad I did.

Apart from the line up of terrific speakers, great food, great hotel etc, it was getting to try on Google Glass that really made it special.

I’m a bit of a techno geek and I love to have the latest gadgets and tools to make life easier, but Google Glass takes that to a whole new level.

What you can do with Google Glass

As well from having the ability to make phone calls, you can also;

• Take photos.
• Take videos.
• Check your emails.
• Reply to emails.
• Send a message.
• Surf the internet.
• Get directions from Google Maps.
• And so, so much more.

So what’s the big deal I hear you say, I can do that now on my phone. But the difference is that you are wearing this device – just like a pair of glasses, so it’s all hands free! The guy who was wearing it – Trey Ratcliff referred to as a “wearable computer” and that really describes it well.

How Google Glass works (real basic)

As you can see in my photo, Google Glass looks a bit like a pair of normal glasses and Google say that we will eventually be able to get it built into our regular glasses, so it will look completely normal – now it looks like something out of Star Trek, which is probably why I loved it so much, I’m a Trekkie fan from way back in the 60’s (beam me up Scottie).

Having Google Glass at ProBlogger created a real buzz amongst the crowd and at the fab party “This is Queensland” hosted on Saturday night, everyone wanted to try them out. I was lucky enough to have a go too.

I could really get used to “wearing a computer” it would really take things to the next level and make happen just one of the crazy things the internet has made possible. Take a look at this video to see “How it feels”

And this shows you “What it does”

The good and the bad.

But of course it might not always be good, when I explained it to some of my friends they weren’t so sure about it. For example; if you have small children, what’s to stop some weirdo just taking pictures of them – or even videoing them? You wouldn’t have a clue they were doing it.

This whole Google Glass project is fascinating and just another example of how Google are always pushing the boundaries and developing amazing new things. But I guess, like everything – technology comes with a price – I don’t mean the dollars, I mean it changes things, it can make our lives much better in many ways, but it could also make it harder and a bit scarier.

Anyway, thanks Trey for having Google Glass at ProBlogger this year – I wonder what exciting things are in store for next year’s event?

What do you think? Would you wear a computer?

Leave a comment and let me know how you feel about this.