Cloud has been the most sought-after trend for quite some time now. But most businesses are still apprehensive about how cloud computing can be adapted to accommodate their business needs. Most people consider cloud computing as a complex concept, while in reality, it is pretty simple. Cloud computing houses your data offsite in someone else’s data centre unless your business has a private Cloud.
Should your business adopt Cloud Technology?
Businesses usually adopt to Cloud for various reasons. Scalability, low cost, flexibility, and adaptability are some of the primary reasons. There are a few other reasons businesses opt for a cloud, like backup, disaster recovery etc.
Cloud is beneficial for companies of all sizes. For SMBs, the Cloud is an affordable solution since deployment is easy, reduces infrastructure costs, and is simple to manage. For businesses with limited means, using the Cloud also means that projects can be completed faster, cutting the time to market in half.
How to Decide if Cloud is Right for Your Business?
Before opting for the Cloud from a strategic perspective, evaluating if the Cloud is right for your business is crucial. Once this is achieved, it is imperative to assess the current setup before moving to the Cloud, primarily:
- Migration strategy: Do you have the right resources who can help with migration or move from your current outdated systems to the Cloud?
- Technology landscape: Check your geographical presence and future expansions. This will help you decide how much of your investments must go towards cloud computing. You can choose cloud computing for your business depending on the number of users.
- Data regulation: One of the most critical factors to factor in is the various data regulations and policies applicable across multiple geographies. Check how many comply with your business and agree to your guidelines. If you are in a highly regulated industry such as banking, then specific standards must be followed about data and security. It is important to note that your cloud migration plans must ensure that your security needs are met.
- Remote workforce: With the pandemic still looming, we have seen how businesses have opted for cloud computing technology to achieve business continuity. Remote working is gaining more popularity than ever before. Companies must opt for Cloud to enable work to support their workforce seamlessly. It not only helps improve productivity but achieves security without compromising on it.
- Storage efficacy: If you are facing frequent storage issues, then Cloud can be the appealing alternative because it helps achieve flexibility and allows you to scale and upgrade as per your business needs. It is cost-effective as compared to investing in on-premise physical storage.
- Outdated hardware: Hardware in small businesses is essential and a significant investment. When the current hardware being used by the industry is approaching end-of-life, investing in new replacement systems could mean during in tremendous amount of money on infra. But integrating the Cloud can help achieve enterprise-level technology and security at a meagre cost.
- Decrease redundancies: If you are trying to expand your business to a few locations, rather than opening new office spaces, buying servers, additional routers etc, can add up to costs hugely. But moving to the Cloud eliminates these redundancies.
- Protecting Sensitive Information: Data protection becomes more critical when you are a small business owner. A single data breach could destroy your reputation and cost your customer’s trust. Moving to the Cloud will protect sensitive information, save time, maintain compliance and eliminate risks. The Cloud offers end-to-end encryption and secure storage and helps you protect proprietary company data, sensitive customer information and everything else your business needs to function daily.
Most things mentioned above can be made much easier with the right Cloud Service Provider. They can resolve most of the issues your business may face and help you with a smooth transition so that your business doesn’t have to go through unforeseen expenditures during migration.
With all the above-mentioned vital factors, the question is no longer if cloud computing can help my business but rather which platform to use. All you need to do as a business owner is choose the right Cloud aligned with your business goals and infrastructure.
Cloud is an ever-evolving trend, so if you still have concerns about moving your business to Cloud, watch out for the upcoming trends that may help you decide if Cloud is right for your business.
