A simple way of describing cloud computing is computing that is based on the Internet, not on the hard drive of your equipment. In the past, computer software and applications would be downloaded and stored on the hard drive of the computer or the business server. Now, it’s possible to access all the same apps and software through the Internet instead.
Businesses have been steadily moving over to cloud computing over the past few years, for very good reasons. There are several advantages that can be found when using this method of computing – read on to see how you, too, could benefit, just like your competitors are.
Added Flexibility
With cloud computing, it is possible to increase the bandwidth your business needs within minutes. The cloud-based servers have a huge capacity available, so if you need more space all you need to do is ask for it – usually with just a few simple clicks on your keyboard or touchscreen. There’s no need to pay for a new hard drive or server space. There’s no waiting around. If you need the space, it’s there ready for the taking at any time of the day or night.
Automatic Software Updates
When you have software on your computer, you are the one who needs to stay on top of the updates. If you have a server, it’s up to you to manage the system and on-site security. This takes time and can cost money if you need to hire assistance from IT professionals. When you use cloud computing, the suppliers of the service are the ones who have to update the security and the apps themselves. The cloud server maintenance is something you don’t even need to worry about. That leaves you with extra time to concentrate on other areas of your business and can reduce your business expenses.
Added Protection for Your Business
All businesses need to establish complex recovery plans in order to prevent problems from spiralling into disasters if anything was to go wrong with the sever or computer. As businesses store a lot of information and essential files, not to mention customer data, it’s essential that recovery plans are set up to keep the business working. Losing everything would be extremely costly and damaging, so it is essential to back up frequently. The backups need to be in different forms, with on- and off-site backups made just to be on the safe side.
When you use cloud computing, you have the added benefit of having your apps and your files backed up automatically. If anything was to go wrong, all the data is stored in the cloud and can be accessed from anywhere as long as you have Internet access and your login information. You don’t have to pay extra for this service, and you can resolve issues within hours rather than days.
Escaping the Office
Provided that you and your employees are able to go online, it is possible to work anywhere. This means you are able to offer a greater work-life balance to your employees and increase productivity. Offering telecommuting is a great way of reducing your own costs and providing your employees with flexible work options. They can leave work early to attend appointments or to pick up their children and continue to work later by accessing the files stored in the cloud. As the cloud updates in real time, any changes or new files will be there already, so the employees can pick up and continue working on their projects without waiting for input from anyone else.
Better Control of Your Files and Documents
Many businesses no longer work from one central office. They have people working together in different parts of the world and in different time zones. If you don’t use cloud computing, the workers need to send files back and forth via email, so documents can only be worked on by one person at a time. The others need to wait before they can continue or make any changes to the document.
With cloud computing, all documents are stored on the Internet in one location. Even though the employees are spread around the world, the document remains in the same place. Everyone is able to work on the central copy together, making collaboration simple and less time-consuming. It’s even possible to have real-time chats while working, meaning the whole system is more efficient.
These are just a handful of the many advantages you can gain when you switch over to cloud computing. As you can see, the cloud and business operations are the perfect partners.
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