The upward trend in remote work is no secret. In 2017 alone the number of people working from home increased by 7.9%. With remote working on the rise due to COVID-19, cloud computing for business is simply no longer an option; it’s a necessity in order to keep your sensitive data secure.
What is Cloud Computing?
In its simplest form, cloud computing allows business owners and employees to remotely access their data over the internet. Highlighted below are a few benefits of cloud computing that can save your business time and money while providing a secure way for your employees to get their work done.
Access from Anywhere
In comparison to storing data on a hard drive or physical server, cloud computing allows business owners and employees to access company data from anywhere in the world so long as they have access to an internet connection.
Disaster Recovery
Physical servers and computers in an office space are subject to fire, flood, or burglary risks. These disasters could destroy or compromise important company information and your reputation. By contrast, cloud computing services regularly update your company data so that it’s never lost or damaged due to uncontrollable circumstances.
Reduced Expenses
As a business owner, you already know that it’s costly to purchase, maintain, and protect physical servers in your office. However, with cloud services, a company is only required to pay for the space they use on the remote server.
By eliminating the need for an in-office data center, businesses are able to free up space and reduce energy usage, insurance bills, and other costs associated with maintaining servers.
Other advantages to investing in cloud services include reducing a company’s carbon footprint by supporting remote work and cutting transportation costs for employees. Organizations can also offer employees flexible working environments and a better work/life balance.
Is Cloud Computing Necessary?
Depending on the size of the business and the amount of necessary data storage, it’s paramount to analyze and consider whether cloud computing is financially viable for your business.
Some employees can rely on their personal laptops and perhaps an external hard drive to store their data. However, large companies could be better off with a cost-effective storage solution provided by cloud computing services.
Check Compliance
Take note of compliance and security protocols when partnering with a cloud provider. Depending on the industry, moving data to another provider’s server could breach HIPAA or PCI DSS laws which protect firms and customer data.
Find a Professional Managed IT Services Provider
Migrating a business to the cloud is no easy task. To avoid common pitfalls, find an experienced Managed IT Services Provider that offers both cloud migration and computing solutions.
A reputable Managed IT Services Provider can guide businesses through setup while also addressing data and compliance needs, in order to provide secure hosting options that will work for your business.
Back-Up Data Before Migration
Migrating business data to a cloud computing platform can put sensitive business data at risk for a breach. To avoid any cyber attacks, consider securing data with password-protected zip files. Once all files are saved and protected, use a secure network or ethernet connection and conduct the transfer in multiple stages.
Application Transfer
It’s essential to be cautious when transferring business applications to the cloud. Hire a Managed IT Services company to evaluate each application and decipher which apps are suitable to transfer.
The number one way to prevent data mishaps is to hire a Managed IT Service Provider to analyze your company’s requirements and support a secure transition to the cloud.
