Cloud computing is evolving today like never before, with companies of all shapes and sizes looking to the cloud for their storage, disaster recovery, and performance needs. If you’ve never encountered “the cloud” before, then don’t worry – it’s easy enough to understand. Cloud computing is computing hosted on the “cloud”. Where previously, people would run applications on software that they downloaded on physical servers or computers, the cloud has offered a simpler solution by allowing multiple people to access the same applications through an online account.
The chances are, you’re already using cloud computing without realizing it. When you’re uploading pictures to your Facebook profile, you’re using a cloud server. The same is true when you’re checking your bank balance, or storing information on Dropbox. The question is, why should you consider using cloud computing for your business? What are the benefits of moving to the cloud?
1. It’s Cost-Efficient
First, cloud computing is one of the most cost-efficient ways of working online. Traditional desktop software can cost a great deal in terms of finance, particularly when you need to add up the expense of licensing fees for multiple users. On the other hand, the cloud is highly cost-effective and available at much cheaper rates. You can even access “pay-as-you-go” cloud accounts that allow you to scale your needs with the requirements of your business.
2. Flexibility
Speaking of versatile scaling, cloud-based services are inherently flexible. Because you’re accessing a cloud system, you can simply upgrade or downgrade your package according to your bandwidth demands, or the type of software you need. There’s no need to continue paying out for licenses if you’re not using them, and if you see a sudden uptick in business, you’ll be ready to immediately jump into action. That’s why CIOs consider “operational agility” to be the key benefit of cloud adoption.
3. Built-in Disaster Recovery
When you’re storing your data on the cloud, you’ll often find that your service provider will give you free backup and recovery services to ensure that you never lose the information you need. Cloud service providers can ensure that the whole process of backup and recovery is much simpler than it might be with other traditional methods of disaster recovery.
4. Automatic Software Updates
Sick of constantly updating your software? With cloud services, you don’t have to. Software integration is something that occurs automatically, which means that you can benefit from a more secure network. After all, many criminals use the gaps that occur in between software updates to take advantage of different applications. With instant updates, you never need to worry about getting left behind again.
5. Quick Deployment
Cloud deployment is quick, easy, and cost-effective. You don’t need to spend hours installing new software or setting up new accounts. Once you opt to move into the cloud, your entire operating system can quickly be switched over within minutes. Obviously, the amount of time the process will take can depend on the complexity of your system.
6. Better Collaboration
When your teams can all access, edit, and share the same documents through workplace cloud collaboration applications, they’re able to work seamlessly together on projects. This means that you could end up with a more productive workforce, and fewer people running around trying to print out documents or get feedback over email. At the same time, you can even allow your team members to collaborate effortlessly with people in remote destinations.
7. Better Document Management
The more people you have collaborating on a single project, the more need you’ll have for watertight access control. Before the cloud, workers were forced to rely on email and thumb-drives to transfer information back and forth. Unfortunately, you’ll eventually end up with a mess of different files and formats to deal with. The good news is that when you move to cloud computing, all of your files get stored centrally in the same place, which means that everyone’s seeing the same version of the same project in real time.
8. Improved Security
Lost laptops, missing thumb-drives, or even misplaced documents can lead to some pretty serious problems for your business. Even more worrisome than the loss of a piece of expensive equipment, of course, is the loss of the essential data inside of it. Cloud computing can give you a great deal of security when things go missing because you can still access the files you need in the cloud. At the same time, you can remotely wipe any of the sensitive documents that might be accessible from your lost equipment, so you know it won’t fall into the wrong hands.
9. The Competitive Edge
These days, every business wants to be competitive, and there’s a good chance that yours is no different. Moving to the cloud might not make you an instant success, but it does mean that you can play with the big dogs, by accessing enterprise-level technology, without the significant price tag. Smaller businesses can achieve greater company outcomes through cloud technology, and pay-as-you-go applications mean that you don’t have to worry about breaking the budget. With the cloud, you can stay nimble and lean, while accessing all the power you need to make your impact on the market.
10. It’s Environmentally Friendly!
Last but not least, while the well-being of the environment might not be the main focus of your business plan – it’s a key part of making your company more sustainable. Moving to the cloud can be an environmentally friendly solution because it means that you take up less energy in the form of your own physical servers. On top of that, you might even decide to reduce the amount of office space that you pay for by allowing people to work remotely. This means fewer people driving to work every day, and fewer emissions damaging the earth.
Is Cloud Computing the Next Step for Your Business?
Cloud computing might not be the perfect solution for every company, but for many people in the modern world, it offers a versatile and reliable approach to cutting costs and improving efficiency. If you want to find out more about what cloud services can do for you, and how you can make the most of flexible computing, why not reach out to our team today?