The term “cloud computing” may be familiar to you, especially as more services like Office 365 boast their “cloud capabilities.” But do you know what it actually means? Cloud computing refers to any data storage and management, or computing operations that take place not on a local device, but over the Internet. Some examples include sending emails on the go, saving documents online, and collaborating with your team on cloud-based productivity suites like Office 365’s Word and PowerPoint.
According to several analysts, 78% of small businesses will adopt cloud by 2020. The reason is because these cloud-based tools enable businesses to enjoy improved collaboration and convenience. There are also other benefits small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) can enjoy from cloud computing.
Affordability
Migrating to the cloud means reduced costs on hardware purchase and maintenance. Instead, its pay-per-use model means you’re required to pay only according to the amount of data you store. You’ll also avoid unexpected expenses due to broken technology or regular IT upgrades, because everything is usually taken care of by your cloud services provider.
Scalability
One of the main features of cloud computing is its ability to upscale and downscale storage space at will. Unlike traditional servers and data centers that require days or weeks to install and configure, cloud computing gives you access to more storage and enables you to host more software applications almost immediately. This allows you to respond to increased demands promptly, ensuring customer and business needs are always met.
Security
Many companies implement BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) policies to bolster productivity and efficiency. However, these same companies are liable to losing thousands of dollars and tarnishing their reputation if their employees end up losing their work devices.
The cloud is protected by multi-layered security solutions, and is constantly monitored by security experts. Your stored files are also encrypted to prevent hackers from accessing the content. You can also remotely delete data stored on your stolen device to ensure information confidentiality.
Productivity
Based on a study by Polycom, Inc., and Future Workplace, 98% of more than 24,000 workers stated “anywhere working” positively impacted their work productivity. One reason for this is because working remotely enables better work-life balance. However, you can experience this only if you’re equipped with the proper tools, which cloud computing can deliver.
By hosting your software applications and documents in the cloud, and connecting your device to a strong Internet, your employees will be able to work and collaborate with their colleagues in real time from anywhere. They will also enjoy higher visibility, increased collaboration, better work quality, and improved bottom line as everyone gains access to one version of the document.
Disaster Recovery (DR)
Man-made or natural disasters like floods, fires, or hacks come knocking when you least expect. And for cash-strapped SMBs, every minute of downtime can cost $137 to $427 -- money they can’t afford to lose. That’s why it’s important to ensure your company has on-demand access to an up-to-date cloud-based backup and DR plan.
Your DR plan will ensure your latest document is securely stored in the cloud, and identify: the person-in-charge during the crisis, your IT staff’s contact numbers, and procedures that should be taken. This will allow you to minimize your downtime and resolve issues promptly.
Environmentally friendly
The main objective of every SMB is to gain large profit and eventually expand their business. But as citizens of the world, it is also important to make sure every decision we make doesn’t harm the environment. Cloud computing not only gives you massive cost savings, but also reduces your data center’s carbon footprints.
Other than these six benefits, cloud computing also empowers SMBs to provide best-in-class services faster to clients and compete against larger, established companies to vie for clients. If you’re located at Houston, Baytown, or Conroe and you’d like to experience these in your business or know more about our cloud computing service, contact our experts at (281) 853-8835 or send us a message here.
