Managing digital signage systems like MagicINFO on local servers can become a headache as your business grows. You might have noticed the strain of maintaining hardware, dealing with software updates, or simply trying to keep everything running smoothly across multiple locations.
The good news is, there is a way out of this maze.
This post is here to walk you through the reasons why migrating to a cloud environment makes sense, not just for now, but for the future of your business.
And if you are wondering how to make the switch without a hitch, we have got you covered there as well.
Moving your MagicINFO installation to a cloud setup brings a lot of benefits that can simplify your digital signage management and help your business grow more effectively. Here is why:
One of the main reasons to switch to a cloud ecosystem is how easy it becomes to scale your operations. When your business grows, adding more displays or new locations can be as simple as clicking a button.
You will not need to invest in new servers or worry about managing storage capacity; the cloud service automatically takes care of these needs.
Whether you are expanding to just one more display or hundreds across different regions, the platform will seamlessly accommodate your growth.
This flexibility is invaluable for businesses looking to grow or that have specific needs.
Digital signage is a powerful tool for your business, but managing it with an on-premise solution can be expensive. Opting for a cloud-based approach can significantly reduce these costs.
While this solution only comes with a subscription model, it can lead to savings in other areas.
With the cloud, you do not need to maintain a dedicated IT team or specialist for network upkeep. Instead, your service provider handles the technical maintenance, allowing you to focus on your core business activities. This shift can make cloud-based digital signage a more budget-friendly option.
The cloud brings your MagicINFO management to your fingertips, no matter where you are.
Your location is no barrier to managing your digital signage. Whether you are at your desk, on a business trip or enjoying a vacation, you have full access to log in, manage content, update playlists, and monitor performance.
This kind of flexibility is especially useful if you have multiple locations to manage or a team spread out over different places.
You are no longer tied to a physical location, giving you the freedom to work from anywhere with an internet connection.
Keeping software updated when you are running it on your own servers can be a pain. You need to schedule downtime, apply patches and make sure everything is compatible.
In the cloud, all of this is taken care of for you. Updates are applied automatically, often without you even noticing.
This means you are always working with the latest features, improvements and security enhancements. No more worrying about falling behind on updates or dealing with bugs that have already been fixed in newer versions.
Security is a big concern for any business, and cloud providers take it seriously. They invest heavily in protecting their systems with the latest security technologies, from encryption to multi-factor authentication and regular security audits.
This level of protection is often beyond what most companies can afford to implement on their own.
By moving to the cloud, you can benefit from these advanced security measures, keeping your data safe from breaches and your operations secure from threats.
When you are running digital signage on your own servers, a hardware failure or power outage can bring everything to a halt. In the cloud, your system is built to keep running, even if something goes wrong in one location.
Cloud services are designed with redundancy, meaning your data and applications are backed up and spread across multiple data centres.
This reduces the risk of downtime and ensures that your digital signage stays online, even in the face of unexpected issues.
Your business can continue to operate smoothly, and your customers will not even notice if something goes wrong behind the scenes.
If your team is spread out across different locations, the cloud makes it much easier to work together.
Everyone can access the same system, see the same content and make updates in real time. This is a huge advantage for businesses with multiple offices or remote teams.
There is no need for complex VPNs or remote desktop setups – just log in and you are ready to go. Additionally, you can assign roles to control access, ensuring that team members only see the content and displays relevant to their responsibilities.
Collaboration becomes smoother, faster and less prone to errors, which is especially important when you are managing time-sensitive content or need to make quick changes.
Switching to MagicINFO in the cloud brings a range of practical benefits that make managing your digital signage easier, more secure and more cost-effective. It is a forward-looking move that can help your business stay flexible, efficient and ready for whatever comes next.
Migrating your MagicINFO system from an on-premise setup to an online one might seem like a big task, but following the proper steps ensures a smooth transition. Here is a straightforward guide to help you understand the process.
The first step in the migration is to create a full backup of your current MagicINFO setup. This includes everything - your content, playlists, schedules, user accounts, device information and all the settings that make your system work just the way you like it.
Depending on how much content you have, this part can take some time, especially if there is a lot of data to transfer. If your IT team or service provider has access, they will handle the backup for you and make sure nothing is lost during the move.
Next, your MagicINFO cloud environment needs to be set up. This usually involves installing the latest stable version of MagicINFO on the cloud server. The cloud provider will take care of this installation, ensuring that everything is configured correctly from the start.
The goal is to create a cloud setup that mirrors your on-premise environment as closely as possible, with no data loss, allowing you to continue in the cloud right where you left off in the on-premise setup. This ensures that the transition feels seamless.
Once the cloud environment is ready, the next step is to point your digital signage displays to the new cloud server. This might involve making some changes to your network, such as updating the IP address or hostname that the devices are connected to.
In most cases, the default MagicINFO ports are already open, so you will not need to worry about complex configurations.
This is a critical step to ensure all your displays can communicate with the new server smoothly.
After everything is redirected, it is time to check that MagicINFO is working properly in its new home. Thorough testing is crucial to ensure all your content, playlists and schedules are functioning as expected. This process also verifies that all your devices are properly connected to the system.
Any issues that come up are resolved during this stage to ensure that the system is fully operational.
As a side task during the migration, the MagicINFO licence may need to be transferred if it was purchased from an external source. In such cases, the licence is migrated under the service provider’s management.
While you retain ownership of the licence, the provider becomes the point of contact for any licence-related issues and for increasing the number of licences when needed, making it easier to maintain the system and ensure everything stays up to date.
With everything set up and verified, the last step is to do a final round of checks. This includes ensuring that all your data has been successfully backed up and restored, your displays are all connected and displaying correctly, and that the system is stable. Once everything looks good, your MagicINFO setup is officially live on the cloud.
When selecting the right cloud environment for MagicINFO, consider your business's size, budget, security requirements and the level of control you need.
Each type of cloud environment has its own strengths, so choosing the right one depends on what best fits your operational needs.
A public cloud is hosted by a third-party provider and shared among multiple users. It is the most common and cost-effective option because resources are spread across many clients.
This is ideal for businesses looking for a simple, affordable solution with minimal IT management.
MagicINFO on a public cloud can provide quick scalability and lower upfront costs, but you may have less control over the infrastructure.
For many small to medium-sized businesses, a public cloud environment is a solid choice, as it offers convenience and easy access.
A private cloud is dedicated solely to your business. This means greater control over the infrastructure and enhanced security, as the environment is not shared with other organisations.
This option is well-suited for businesses with strict regulatory requirements, sensitive data or a need for custom configurations.
While the private cloud can be more expensive, it offers the highest level of control and security for managing your MagicINFO system.