Making the decision to transition all or part of your business to the cloud can feel like a stormy ordeal. There are obvious benefits, but there are also many aspects of moving toward cloud computing that can leave you with questions. The biggest question of all is, “Is cloud computing right for my business?”
Getting familiarized with the logistics of how the cloud functions and what it can offer you is a crucial first step in deciding whether to make the transition. Like with any new technology, you don't want to be out of the loop, but you also don't want to feel lost or assume too much risk.
The following is a list of common issues related to cloud computing.
1. Dedicated Servers vs. the Cloud
One of the biggest challenges that businesses face when considering cloud migration is how it impacts older, dedicated servers. There is no right or easy answer to address this concern. Companies running on well functioning and specialized servers are absolutely right to question moving towards the cloud. It isn't necessarily an easy move, but with the help of experts, the transition is often much quicker than you'd expect and without much downtime.
As a smaller company, with fewer servers, the transition to the cloud often results in cost savings on your backend, and creates a more efficient infrastructure to house your data. As a larger company, with a more complex network, the cloud may end up increasing your costs. However—and this is a big however—there is no denying that the business landscape is moving towards cloud computing. While “the cloud” feels like a new and trendy buzzword, it is not going to fizzle out. Making the transition now allows you and your business to grow alongside this new wave of innovation.
2. Business Flexibility
One of the major benefits of the cloud is that it allows you to control what you get out of the service. If you need more bandwidth, you can get it. If you require less capacity, no problem. You can make those adjustments to suit your precise needs. Another major benefit is that you retain control over what you maintain on site and what you move to the cloud. You can increase service or scale down as you see fit.
This can reduce a lot of pressure for those companies that may still feel a bit resistant to moving to the cloud. You are never without control of how you use the service. You can split your workload between the cloud and your dedicated servers to fit your needs, and you can adjust the level of services at your own pace.
3. Disaster Recovery
The threat of cyberattacks or security breaches is something that every company, big or small, should be aware of. Every company should also have an action plan to prevent cyberattacks and to recover from potential cyberattacks. The rate at which your business can bounce back from such an attack can make all the difference in the day-to-day operations of your company. An expertly implemented cloud-based disaster recovery plan can help prevent financial extortions, business downtime, and keep your data secure from cybercriminals.
4. Increasing Collaboration
Cloud computing brings an all new meaning to "all hands on deck." It allows you to share access to data within your company and with whichever clients you choose. Sending and sharing files and attachments over email is often time consuming and inconvenient. Updates can be made to an older version of a document by mistake. Cloud computing increases collaboration and engagement between users, allowing for a more effective dialogue between employees and customers alike.
5. Automatic Updates
Having multiple different types of software running on your network means you are going to get an abundance of notifications for software and security updates. It is a daunting task to keep track of and make the effort to be on top of all these updates and modifications. The cloud assumes much of that task. A good cloud provider or IT services expert will take on the responsibility for keeping your software running at its most efficient.
6. Your Bottom Line
By moving to cloud computing, businesses can take advantage of third-party resources that work to build a secure, efficient, and up-to-date foundation upon which your business can operate. You get to take advantage of the test and development environment that cloud service providers continually work on. Cloud computing gives you automated resources to streamline your business operations.
7. Backing up Your Data
Clicking save or popping in a USB drive can be the extent of how some businesses back up their data. You often don't think much about the steps you take in saving your files. But if any part of your network gets hacked or fails, all those basic steps you took do nothing to keep your information safe and accessible. The cloud keeps every file, application, and document you work on saved in a secure network without the bells and whistles (read: hassles and drawbacks) of USB devices.
In closing, cloud computing is the inevitable future of data storage and information sharing. Getting on board now means keeping in step with the rapid move towards advancing innovations in data storage and organization. Cloud computing can increase security and reduce costs. Speak to one of our IT services professionals about transitioning to the cloud.
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