A common question people ask is what are 5 benefits of migrating your business to the cloud.
The short answer is there are many benefits. But, these are the 5 with the most impact.
Building your very own IT infrastructure is a costly and time-consuming process. Setting up your own software, integrating enough storage, obtaining licenses, hiring the right staff to ensure everything runs smoothly, all of these tasks take time and money, not to mention that you need to invest in scalability and flexibility if you are to allow your IT infrastructure to grow with your company.
Oh, and let’s not forget about proper customer authentication, as well as cybersecurity in general.
When you think about it, it doesn’t really seem like a cost-effective thing to do. And you’re right, it certainly isn’t, that’s why some very smart people have invented cloud computing.
Cloud computing has been around for some time now, and it’s quickly becoming the foundation of global business operations.
Let’s explore the benefits of the cloud and how it can help you take your company forward.
The Cloud Can Reduce The Costs Of IT (Information Technology)
The first and one of the most obvious benefits of cloud computing is reducing IT costs. Building and managing your own data center can put a dent in your company’s budget, especially if you’re expecting to grow in the foreseeable future and need to allocate additional resources into expanding your IT infrastructure as well. Among the common expenses are:
- Purchasing the proper equipment.
- Obtaining the right software.
- Hiring professional IT staff.
- Purchasing servers.
- Purchasing storage.
- Obtaining licenses.
- Investing in long-term infrastructure maintenance.
Now, seeing as how cloud computing is a service, you only have to pay for that service, and the provider will handle and provide the rest. Plus, you may implement cloud discounts for SaaS to get cost reductions on the chosen cloud platform. Depending on the needs of your business, you can choose between three services: PaaS (Platform as a Service), IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service), and SaaS (Software as a Service). Be sure to contact customer service when researching providers to ascertain the exact needs of your brand.
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Scale The Infrastructure As You Grow
Scalability ties directly into the problem of cost Vs. effect of managing your own data center. In essence, your data center can never boast the level of scalability that cloud computing offers, at least not without investing significant amounts of financial resources when the time comes to expand your IT infrastructure. Just imagine the costs of hiring new IT professionals, buying new equipment, moving everything to a bigger office space, adding storage, and then managing the new infrastructure over time.
And time is of the essence. When you’ve managed to grow your customer base, and the time has come to grow your business as a whole, you want your data center to grow with you in real-time. With cloud computing, all you have to do is to let your provider know that you’re growing and pay for the additional costs in order to receive more storage, and every other perk that a growing business needs.
Enjoy The Flexibility To Work From Anywhere With The Cloud
One of the most compelling benefits of cloud computing for modern businesses is that it offers unparalleled flexibility. Like, literally, because it allows your business, it’s staff, and every relevant actor to stay mobile and work from anywhere. The way modern cloud services work is they allow companies to create a more mobile work environment, minimize the need for in-office labor, manage the workflow from anywhere in the world, and enable cross-department collaboration. When on the cloud, employees can work from home, from the field, and from the office.
What this means for you is that you can change your entire company culture and build a flexible work environment, minimize overhead and payroll costs, move into a smaller office with a better view if you want, and oversee all business operations (no matter where they take place) in real-time. This type of flexibility is simply not possible with a localized data center.
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Take Cybersecurity To The Next Level With The Cloud
Another great benefit of cloud computing, one that an increasing number of 21st-century business leaders are interested in, is improved cybersecurity. To improve data security in your small business, you’ll want to shift from a localized data center to a cloud platform with numerous security measures, fortified firewalls, multiple backups, easy remote control and access to managers, and more.
Unlike a physical data center, a cloud IT infrastructure is difficult to breach, and if a break-in does occur, you can quickly migrate all data to a different account, or a different server. Once you do, simply wipe the compromised data off the server and your business is protected.
Improve Data Recovery And Your Backup Plan
And speaking of safeguarding your business data, companies operating in a physical data center can have a difficult time creating effective data recovery strategies. If a sudden loss of business information occurs, there is little you can do to recover it if you haven’t updated your backup. On the cloud, updates are done automatically and regularly, allowing you to recover your data almost instantly if something goes awry. As long as you have an internet connection, you will always have access to all business information.
Wrapping Up
Cloud computing is quickly becoming the foundation of good business, and every growth-oriented company should consider migrating to the cloud in order to stay competitive, scale quickly, and keep sensitive information safe, among other compelling reasons. With these insights in mind, be sure to make the cloud an integral part of your brand’s future.
