Leveraging the Cloud for Your Small Business
By now, we’re all familiar with the concept of cloud computing, and many companies rely on cloud solutions to house and access their data and applications. According to research and advisory firm Gartner, 60 percent of businesses will be hosting their data in the cloud by 2022. However, the cloud isn’t just for large organizations. On the contrary, the cloud enables small businesses to level the playing field by providing access to affordable, enterprise-grade technology. Here are some of the benefits your small business will reap from leveraging the cloud.
Lower your IT costs – Perhaps most important of all to small companies, utilizing cloud technology can save you money. With cloud computing, you pay a small monthly fee and are spared the burden of investing in costly IT hardware. You’ll also be spared the expense of operational support and maintenance costs, as installing, updating, and maintaining both software and hardware will all be the responsibility of your cloud provider.
Access your files from anywhere – As the COVID-19 pandemic has reinforced, it’s beneficial for us to be able to access our data and applications from anywhere. When leveraging the cloud, your staff can access everything they need from multiple devices and locations. Productivity is greatly improved when your employees can work just as effectively at home or on the road as they can in the office. This improved access also makes collaboration easier, with real-time updating of your files, ensuring you’re always working with the latest version.
Reduce security risks – Small businesses might not have as much in the coffers as larger companies, but that doesn’t prevent hackers from targeting them. Moreover, cybercriminals aren’t the only threat to your data—natural disasters, equipment failure, and human error can lead to data loss that can devastate your business. With your data stored in the cloud, you’ll reduce security risks and improve the integrity of your data through access to state-of-the-art, enterprise-grade cybersecurity. The cloud will also facilitate automated backups of your data, enabling you to restore your information in the event of a data disaster.
The cloud is an affordable, secure, scalable solution that provides small businesses access to the type of technology the big guys utilize. If you’d like to learn more about a cloud solution for your company, contact us today to speak to one of our IT experts.