Cloud computing represents the next step forward in the world of Information technology. As you might expect, this new technology comes with a few problems, but it also offers a whole lot of advantages. As more and more people and companies switch over to this kind of computing, everyone will at least need to be familiar with its basic principles. With that in mind, let’s go over the key benefits of cloud computing.
1. Reduced IT Costs
Although this may not be true in all cases, most businesses will save money on IT costs by switching to the cloud. There are several reasons for this, but most of it comes down to one simple fact: The cloud allows you to outsource many aspects of your IT setup.
For instance, you won’t have to worry about purchasing or maintaining in-house servers with a cloud setup. All of that will be taken care of by your cloud service provider, which takes a very big expense off your shoulders. Most business networks will need to be expanded at some point, and this can get expensive. However, a cloud provider removes all of that hassle.
We might also mention the impact on your electric bill. A few laptops might not be enough to raise your monthly utility bill, but a few servers are. Because they are quite large and have to be running most of the time, the costs can add up quickly. When you use a cloud setup, your on-site IT equipment can be much more spartan and minimal.
2. Secure Data Backups
There are many instances in which a cyber-attacker will target your data, and one of the most common is the ransomware attack. Hackers will basically encrypt your whole hard drive and make it impossible for you to gain access. Then, they will send a ransom message, demanding money or other things in exchange for unlocking the account.
A ransomware attack is normally quite a problem. However, cloud computing can make this problem into an easy one. As long as the cloud itself is not compromised, you should be able to restore your entire system from those cloud-based backups. At the most, you might lose a day or two of work (depending on when the backup was made). Because of this, it is very important to pick a cloud service provider that offers strong network encryption and 24/7 network monitoring.
3. More Efficient For Remote Work
Working from home is more common than ever, mostly because the internet has made it much easier. Although you don’t necessarily have to use cloud computing for your remote workers, it does help a lot. With the use of a well-maintained cloud, they can log into the system from anywhere, and at virtually any time.
When you have a more streamlined and efficient work-from-home system, it opens up a lot of employment possibilities. For instance, let’s say you have found the perfect person for a given job, but they live on the other side of the country. If your cloud provider is up to par, this should not be a problem. At the same time, your local employees can also be more productive. The cloud makes it easier for them to work from home, even if they are sick or otherwise impaired.
Although you might not have guessed it, remote workers can actually be a lot more productive. This is because they are able to control their schedule to a greater extent. Because of this, they can time their work in a more convenient way. This works out for the employer because a happy worker tends to be a more productive one. There are numerous studies that have confirmed this fact, so it seems to be pretty obvious.
4. Multi-Purpose Management
We have talked a lot about the ways in which businesses can use the cloud. However, we have not addressed this question: What if you have more than one business location? Do you have to buy two different cloud accounts? In most cases, the answer is no. You can use the same cloud for all your business locations.
By using the same cloud across the board, you ensure that everyone has good access to all the information they need. You also ensure that the information is uniform and unchanged. The best thing about this is the fact that you can manage everything from one location with one crew. That means you don’t have to hire a separate IT crew at every location, and it means that your team will be able to work much more efficiently.
5. Greater Network Speed
It would be hard to overstate the damage that can be done from long periods of network inactivity. Anytime your business network is out of service, you are losing out on productivity and profit. That’s why it’s so handy that the cloud offers faster speeds and less network latency. If you don’t know what “latency” is, it’s just a delay that happens between one server and another.
In-house servers will most often be designed and bought with a “bare minimum” approach in mind. In an effort to reduce costs, they will probably use substandard equipment, and that will result in a slow network. Cloud providers, on the other hand, know that the stability of their business depends on speed and reliability. For this reason, you are likely to experience much less delay after switching to the cloud. That translates to more work done and more profit for you.
Conclusion
There are other benefits to cloud computing, but these are probably the five biggest ones. In fairness, we should tell you that there are some problems with cloud computing as well. For instance, a less-diligent cloud provider can be hacked just as easily as your home computer. When this happens, the attacker gains all your data in one fell swoop. Still, this shouldn’t be an issue if you pick a cloud provider with a reputation for tight security. If you have found the above to be helpful, please fill out the contact form below.