In order to stay competitive in today’s economic sphere, small businesses need to be open to adopting the latest technologies to get a leg up on the competition and enhance their own operations. This means exploring different options for long-held solutions, and understanding the benefits of many new opportunities.
Why Consider the Cloud?
Cloud computing provides a strong opportunity for small businesses to drastically change the way they operate, for the better. Implementing cloud computing can lower overall costs in the long run, add security to daily operations, provide flexibility for employees, and provide new means for managing your business. The cloud can be exceptionally cost effective, and provides a trustworthy system for backing up a small business’ data. With potential for large amounts of data storage with minimal maintenance, the ability to quickly backup files, and enhanced security technologies, it’s certainly a solution small business owners will need to consider implementing to stay competitive and get ahead.
Added Security
Amidst media headlines about hacking scandals, leaked data and sensitive information falling into the wrong hands, it can be difficult to not look at cloud storage with a little skepticism. For business owners who have always stored data on company servers, or through other methods, taking a chance on the cloud can seem like a big step. However, whether companies choose to implement a full-scale cloud-based solution or a hybridized one that features both on-site servers and cloud storage, these forms of data storage have evolved significantly over time. Providers have stepped up security measures significantly, and end-users can bring their own kinds of encryptions and security measures to the table as well. Take this into consideration alongside the fact that cloud computing is more reliable and less likely to fail, and it can be the perfect solution for a company looking for a truly stable data storage system.
Accessible and Flexible
The cloud offers one particular unique opportunity for companies, employers and employees: mobility. Because the cloud can be accessed anywhere with a wifi connection, it allows entrepreneurs, business owners and their employees access to any data they may need, whether they’re all the way across the country, sitting at home, or in the office. This allows businesses to adopt flexibility for workers who may need to work from home at times, while also providing consistent access for business owners who may need to pull data during a business trip, or in the middle of a meeting. This accessibility can help decrease stress and improve productivity within the workplace for employees at any level, providing plenty of opportunities for growth in a company that’s able to utilize it adequately. Scalability is also much simpler for cloud computing than local storage. While local servers often require hardware additions to expand its storage size, cloud storage scales in a simple fashion, with just a quick call to the company’s provider.
Lower Costs
Holistically, cloud storage implementation may look like a higher cost at first, but in the long term, depending on what the company used previously, it can be a huge cost saver. Cloud storage often comes at a monthly fee that scales depending on the amount of data the company requires. On the other hand, local servers are a large up front cost that comes with regular maintenance requirements over time. At risk of power surges, technologic failures, and hardware malfunctions, local servers can accrue far more in service costs and maintenance than most businesses realize. Alongside that up front cost to build or order the server in the first place, and the burden on a company can truly add up. Cloud storage provides a consistent cost that can be planned and budgeted every month, with no unexpected repairs or maintenance bills for which to account. Additionally, it provides a peace of mind that is simply priceless. Cloud storage is much less likely to fail or lose a company’s data than local servers, and provides a level of comfort in knowing that all of a business’ crucial data is safe and contained. Safe from electrical failures, natural disasters or any other unforeseeable calamity, the cloud can provide business-owners with a sense of security in knowing the company’s data is safe no matter what happens.
Data storage is a necessary detail to account for in today’s professional scope. Gone are the days of physical paper trails, or tangible file storage. But these advancements, although often unfamiliar, can greatly enhance a company’s workflow, efficiency, and employee morale by providing safe and flexible data access. While local servers are a commonality in the workplace, there comes a time to evaluate new solutions for old problems and determine which method is truly best for the company.