Some small businesses have been reluctant to adopt cloud computing, but they shouldn’t be – there is much to be gained from it if you learn to harness its full power.
To briefly define cloud computing, we’re going to quote an article written by SalesForce – a leader in cloud services based in the UK – that states:
Cloud computing is computing based on the internet. Where in the past, people would run applications or programs from software downloaded on a physical computer or server in their building, cloud computing allows people access the same kinds of applications through the internet.
Another source,CRN – the top news source for solution providers and the IT channel – also writes about cloud computing and has predicted that this year, “small businesses will spend almost $100 billion on cloud computing services.”
If your business hasn't embraced the cloud, consider these reasons to head for the skies:
Your Information Technology Costs Will be Lower
Are your IT systems and their maintenance eating up a good portion of your company’s budget? If so, the cloud can help. In addition to not have to purchase physical equipment in the first place, storing more of your business data securely in the cloud allows you to keep fewer pieces of technological equipment, such as servers, in a physical location; if you don’t have the cloud, you probably also have extra servers to hold backup data. This will also require fewer IT employees, as the cloud company you choose maintains the cloud software rather than your company.
It Grows With You
Operating systems change, you expand and suddenly have more data than your servers can handle, etc. If your business seems to “outgrow” your technology solutions far more often than you’d like or can afford, it’s time to move to the cloud. It’s very simple to buy a cloud subscription that offers a smaller amount of space when that’s all you need; as you grow, the cloud can grow too, with you simply purchasing more space instead of physically upgrading your hardware and/or software. The cloud can offer you infinite space if that’s what you need.
Your Employees Get More Flexibility
When your data is stored in the cloud, it is accessible from anywhere that there is an internet connection. This gives your employees the opportunity to work from anywhere. If they have a laptop, smart phone, or tablet, they can work from home, from Starbucks, or even from a doctor’s office while they wait for an appointment. This type of flexibility is a big benefit for companies needing to hire qualified new employees. It also means that if your employees travel for business, they don’t have to keep important data with them, where its integrity might be compromised – the cloud has security to protect your data, and with a cloud account, your traveling employees can access it from anywhere with no worries about privacy.
For more information about cloud computing, contact Oates & Company today.
