Buckeye Telesystem offers cloud computing

3/14/2013

Buckeye Telesystem said Tuesday that it has launched cloud-based computing services for its small and medium-size business customers.

“Cloud-based services allow our customers to focus on their core business. Our objective is to enable valuable resources to focus on projects that will help their business grow rather than focusing on their IT infrastructure,” said Denton Parson, director of business development for Buckeye Telesystem.

Cloud computing refers to the use of computer services, including software programs and data storage, that originate from remote computer servers and are delivered to a customer’s computer over a data network, usually the Internet.

Buckeye Telesystem began offering its new services last week. It already gained a major regional hospital as one of its first clients, said Mike Davis, the company’s director of customer operations. But the services aren’t just for large firms, Mr. Davis said. Cloud-based computing “could benefit anyone from a two-man shop up to Fortune 500 companies,” he said.

The advantage for both, Mr. Davis said, is that all either needs are a computer and an Internet connection. Cloud-servers at Buckeye Telesystem store the programs and the data and basically supply the computing power that is accessed by the customer’s computer, which serves as a remote terminal.

“The customer buys the connectivity, but they don’t have to buy the servers, the network, and they don’t have to keep upgrading every few years. To do all that would cost a large sum of money,” Mr. Davis said.

Customers of Buckeye Telesystem’s cloud-based services will be able to obtain programs and data primarily over the Internet.

But Buckeye Telesystem, a subsidiary of Block Communications Inc., which also owns The Blade and Buckeye CableSystem, also will offer its customers the option of obtaining their cloud-based services through a secure, private connection. Customers will be able to access Buckeye Telesystem’s fiber-based Metro-Ethernet network to establish a private point-to-point connection that also provides enhanced performance and more secure connections.

Among the cloud-based services that are being offered are Hosted Microsoft Exchange, which is primarily an email system; cloud servers to store or utilize software programs, and cloud computer storage space to store and retrieve data.

Buckeye Telesystem has partnered with Sprint to offer security services, including Kaspersky and Norton anti-virus and malicious software deterrent programs.

“We are extremely excited that our offering will enable small to medium-size businesses the ability to purchase products they typically couldn’t purchase because of the large up-front costs,” Mr. Davis said. “Now, any business can get into this space and enjoy a variety of communications services, from Exchange and Outlook to off-site data backup with cloud storage. Bottom line, our customer will have safe and reliable access to their data,” he said.