You’ve probably heard of the cloud by now, but you may still be wondering whether it’s worth the effort to migrate your existing systems. We’re here to help assuage your doubts: cloud computing for small businesses is a smart choice.
The utilization of cloud computing can make your life significantly easier. Read on to learn all the benefits of the cloud!
What Is Cloud Computing?
“The cloud” can be another term for the Internet. Through cloud services, you’re enabling the delivery of computing services such as storage, databases, software, intelligence, and analytics over the Internet. Businesses can use this strategy to migrate easily to the cloud.
Public Cloud
These are owned and operated by third-party cloud service providers. Examples of this are G Suite, Zoho Docs, and Microsoft Azure. You typically pay a low monthly cost to access the owner’s hardware, software, and other supporting infrastructure.
Private Cloud
Private clouds are owned exclusively by a single business entity or organization. Services and infrastructure are maintained on a private network and can even be physically located at the owner’s data center.
Hybrid Cloud
A combination of public and private clouds, hybrid clouds allow the data within both private and public clouds to be shared. This creates safer redundancy and provides even more flexibility.
5 Benefits of the Cloud
1. Scaling Infrastructure
Cutting off access to your website through server load is one of the worst things that can happen to a business, especially if your business is primarily web-based commerce. Scaling cloud-based infrastructure reduces this issue.
In the past, spikes in website traffic had the potential to overload servers, leading to the need to purchase massive server space that businesses may not completely utilize.
Cloud-based infrastructure eliminates this: you only pay for the server load that you need. This cuts down on operating costs and helps run your infrastructure efficiently. As your business and traffic to your website grow, your data infrastructure can scale up with you.
2. Cloud-Based Office Systems
There are now a host of cloud-based office systems, such as:
- Microsoft Office 365
- Google G Suite
- Zoho Docs
- OnlyOffice
- iWork
While each program offers its own set of features, all of them have one thing in common: convenience. Through these systems, your team can work on a project simultaneously on a variety of devices. Changes each team member makes are made in real-time, so no one is ever looking at or working with outdated data.
In the past, this kind of work could only be done by emailing documents to one another and saving that data on multiple computer systems, creating potential confusion and slowing down workflow. Through digital workspaces, collaboration is easily manageable.
3. Remote Workspaces
It may not be efficient for all of your employees to check-in at the office each day. Some companies have become fully virtual. Furthermore, you may have jobs and projects that don’t require workers to live in the same area as your business. Remote workspaces allow telecommuters to contribute to the company as easily as if they were in your building.
In the comfort of their own home, telecommuters can use software like Skype to have live meetings. They can work on projects through Microsoft Office 365 or G Suite, and they can chat and troubleshoot with other employees through Slack.
By implementing remote workspaces, you’ll be saving money that would have been spent on a brick-and-mortal workspace. Your business will also be on the leading edge of technology today.
4. Big Data Analytics
As storage spaces have increased and technology has improved, companies of all sizes can amass large amounts of data. “Big data” is the field of treating data to analyze and extract information from this data that’s simply too complex for traditional data-processing software to handle.
Big data would be wasted potential without an easy way to analyze it, recognize patterns, and make informed decisions based on the information that it derives.
Cloud computing enables companies to analyze this data through user-friendly interfaces that can break data down into layman’s terms. They provide clear visuals that make it easier to see patterns. They also help avoid the pitfalls of bad data.
Some big data software includes:
- Periscope Data
- Microsoft Azure
- Amazon Web Service
- Google BigQuery
- MongoDB
- BlueTalon
- VMware
- IBM Big Data
5. Backups and Recovery
One major benefit of cloud computing is the ability to back up your company’s information and make it easily recoverable. Relying solely on physical infrastructure without cloud backups puts your company in a precarious position.
In the case of security threats like malware, technology failures like corrupted hardware, or damaged equipment, your company will be at risk of losing or leaking valuable information. Building redundancy through cloud-based data storage enables your company to recover faster.
Many systems that back up data through the cloud also include protection against security breaches. Your stored data is replicated throughout various geographical locations, ensuring its safety.
Paving the Way for Small Businesses
With all of the benefits of the cloud in mind, we can agree that cloud computing helps level the playing field between large and small businesses. Small businesses are now able to access secure storage depending on their needs.
Work productivity and efficiency increase with the use of cloud-based office systems. It’s a convenient way for telecommuters to contribute to projects and communicate with co-workers. Last but not least, cloud computing costs and creates the needed flexibility to meet customers’ growing needs and expectations.
Keep reading our blog for more ways to improve the growth and operation of your small business!
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