The cloud is technology that has the potential to take your company’s efficiency to new levels. For many small business owners, running their operations in the cloud means they can access their data from anywhere, on any device at any time; this is only a small benefit of using the cloud. Here are five advantages of cloud computing for small business:
Budget and Flexibility
You don’t have to spend money to set up and maintain your own resources. No more data centres, large hardware arrays, rental space, or any such large expenses. With the cloud, you get to rent out someone else’s space and use it as long as you want. Also, you pay only for what you use. This way, you have the choice to adjust usage based on your cash flow and demands. This is ideal for businesses that have fluctuating demands. You have the option to add more storage space and computing resources when you want. At the same time, you can scale it back when you don’t need it. In addition, your employee costs also go down. When you move to the cloud, a lot of tasks are automated, meaning you need fewer staff to run things.
Disaster Recovery
Businesses of all sizes should have a robust disaster recovery system in place to protect their data and computer systems from loss or failure. Setting up a good backup strategy used to only be possible for people that had the means to install entire server banks and the staff to maintain them. Now, however, setting up an account with a backup service takes five minutes and could cost as little as $5. This is one of the most crucial advantages of cloud computing for small business.
Hassle-Free Maintenance
When you subscribe to a cloud service, you don’t have to worry about a ton of tasks like software updates, installing patches, etc. You can enjoy hassle-free maintenance because such tasks are handled by the cloud provider. This frees up your time and resources, so you can focus on your business.
Better Collaboration
Keeping your data and documents in the cloud also means that your employees can easily work together on them, thanks to applications like Google Drive and Dropbox Paper. This will improve workflow greatly and also should lead to better communication between co-workers. As an organization, you’ll also have better document control. In the past, employees had to send files back and forth as email attachment and this eventually led to a mess of conflicting content. With the cloud, you can store all documents in a central location, so everyone sees the same version. This way, you have better control and the entire collaboration process is more streamlined as well.
Better Security
The cloud is likely a lot safer than your own servers; most cloud providers have put a lot of effort into keeping their clients’ data free from government interference and safe
from cybercriminals. Physical security is generally going to be better, too, as server farms are usually kept under lock and key and will have CCTV monitoring as well as human surveillance around the clock.
There are countless advantages of cloud computing for small business. Moving to the cloud will simplify and enhance your business capabilities and processes. Whether you’re a SME or a large organisation, it is important to realise the opportunity that cloud-based technology can offer your business.
