6 Ways Cloud Computing Can Improve Your Business

Cloud computing is growing at a rapid rate and is now being incorporated into more and more businesses. It’s a system which has a huge number of benefits, which is why its popularity is increasing at such significant levels.

Many businesses have been put off sacrificing their traditional hardware in favour of cloud computing by fears of changing to something new, but the number of benefits that it offers is now so huge that it’s becoming hard to ignore as a way to make your business efficient, forward-thinking and cost-effective.

So, what is cloud computing and how can it help to improve your business?

What is cloud computing?

Cloud computing might sound like something futuristic, but it’s already helping huge amounts of businesses across the world. Once upon a time, all of the data that we stored used to be kept on physical data centres and servers, however, with the implementation of the cloud this can now all be stored online.

This includes computing power, storage, networking, analytics and databases. While there are many cloud-based services available, you’ll generally only pay for the ones that you use, so there is a cloud computing solution to suit every business.

How cloud computing can improve your business

1. Avoiding unnecessary costs

Every business has to come to terms with costs that they might not have realised they needed. One significant cost is the hardware that is used within the business, and the upgrades that this will usually need. This not only refers to the computers that you might use, but also the hard drives and servers that many businesses now rely on.

As a rule of thumb, these need to be updated at least every five years to ensure that they’re still operating efficiently, remain secure and continue to meet the needs of the business. The cost of this can sometimes be massive, especially when you factor in maintenance and repairs of equipment as well.

Cloud computing has proved to be a massive cost saver, as it takes away many of these headaches. Much of this hardware is no longer needed, given that everything is stored online. The fact that it’s also not a physical product means that upgrades can be performed at the touch of a button and are usually included as part of the service.

There’s now no need to invest in a new package or look at regular upgrades as all of this is taken care of for you, and in one single price.

Should you need to increase the storage that you require or give your computing power a boost, you can do so quickly and easily. Expanding your cloud service can be done online in a matter of minutes, without the need to purchase additional hardware which requires time to be delivered and set up.

2. Space saving

Many businesses have had to dedicate entire rooms to servers which are now no longer needed. By moving all of this to the cloud, you can make better use of the space that you have or even reduce it and cut down on another massive business expense.

3. Access anywhere

The fact that the cloud doesn’t have a physical presence means that your employees can benefit from it wherever they are. As the COVID-19 pandemic has meant that many more people are now working remotely, the cloud can keep them all powered and secure whether they are in the office, on the sofa at home or even on the beach.

They can work with computers, laptops, smartphones and many other internet-connected devices to give you a great range of options. This gives your business new flexibility and allows you to run it in a way that works for you and your staff, rather than being governed by your equipment.

4. Energy costs

Traditional servers typically increase your electric consumption, both in powering them and in keeping them cool. With energy costs rising and rapid rates, this is one cost that most businesses are looking to reduce. Cloud computing means that this is no longer necessary and can make sure that your electricity meter is not spinning quite so quickly.

5. Streamlining processes

Cloud computing means that it’s easier than ever to collaborate with others, no matter where they might be in the world. As file sharing and communication is made much easier, businesses can enjoy a much wider pool of talent without needing offices in different locations.

There’s a monthly cost attached to cloud services, which can make them seem expensive, but when looking at the long term, they can often be responsible for a significant drop in expenditure.

As cloud computing allows everything to kept in one place, and for collaborative working to be easier than ever, it has the possibility to make a workforce more productive. Everything is available at the touch of a button, thanks to the increased connectivity making it much easier to work as team and an individual.

Project management becomes more streamlined as everything is accessible, making everyone in the team more efficient.

6. Security

There has been a reticence to put sensitive data into online form, with many businesses feeling those things are more secure when kept under their own lock and key. However, the big cloud providers offer incredible levels of security, and a number of guarantees should the worst happen. They have massive back-up facilities that should ensure you never lose anything.

A physical drive or server can be subject to damage, theft, sabotage or simple failure, the results of which can sometimes never be repaired.

Cloud computing is now proving to be the way forwards for many businesses, as the huge number of benefits that it brings simply cannot be ignored. It saves time, space and security as well as cost, and gives businesses new levels of flexibility that had never before seemed possible, allowing you to develop your business in any way you wish.