Editorial Staff
Cloud computing services have taken the IT and computer industry by storm and promise to revolutionize the way firms can operate in the future. By partnering with a cloud computing company, businesses can entrust their digital services to a professional firm, thereby massively reducing the cost and potential headaches of trying to run their own IT systems.
Cloud services are gradually transforming how and where businesses can operate and, despite being in their relative infancy, promise to change business computing forever. Indeed, their impact is so profound that many technology experts suggest cloud provision could represent the future of computing – but just what is cloud computing and how could it save your firm money?
Cloud computing – an overview
The phrase ‘cloud computing’ refers to any computing services that are processed remotely then delivered to the user (typically over the web), and often in a subscription package. The most common cloud technologies include data storage, running software or performing complex processing tasks that require more powerful machines than are often held locally.
Cloud services save money by being scalable
No company stands still and at any given moment it’s quite likely your firm’s computing requirements are in a constant state of ebb and flow. Whether you’re upscaling or downscaling staff or have landed a contract that requires more processing grunt, a cloud provision company will be able to increase or decrease your range of services – almost at the touch of a button.
By offloading these services to a dedicated provider, firms can massively reduce the cost and resources implications of constantly changing requirements –instead, these issues are offloaded onto the provider. In a traditional IT set-up, this level of flexibility and adaptability simply wasn’t possible, and firms often found themselves investing in costly tech that later would prove to be unnecessary.
Improved productivity and reduced operating costs
Investing in cloud tech is only one small part of the story and with today’s increasingly sophisticated cloud-based apps (many of which are powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI)) companies are enjoying greater levels of automation. Software like Microsoft Teams services could see your staff working collaboratively on files from any location where they can find an internet connection (even just a cell phone signal). Also, by running less in-house IT hardware, you’ll significantly reduce your operating overhead by reducing energy bills.
A cloudcompany invests in professional hardware and software – meaning you don’t have to
Purchasing IT equipment then setting it up and keeping it maintained frequently placed a considerable financial, time and resources drain on firms – particularly smaller companies that struggled to compete with larger rivals.
Of course, most business owners already recognize the significant benefits that IT and networks bring to operations but if that equipment is prohibitively out of reach, it can often be impossible for companies to keep up with rivals.
With cloud provision, the playing field is leveled and companies of any size or budget can gain access to cutting-edge tech. The type of kit that smaller firms simply would not have been able to afford in days gone.
Entrusting data to a cloud provider will save you maintenance and support fees
In the not-so-distant past, firms would invest in internal IT networks only to find they then had to pay support companies for ongoing maintenance or employ a full-time IT specialist to keep their digital services up and running. Neither of these options came cheap and in the worst-case scenario of full system breach or failure companies would also suffer the additional costs and problems of employee downtime.
With a cloud company, all these worries are passed directly to the provider. Cloud firms spend considerable sums ensuring their networks are as secure as possible and protected by industry-leading computer specialists.Again, the kind of talent and precautions most firms could not stretch to.
The cloud means reduced investment in tech
As mentioned earlier, IT equipment doesn’t come cheap, plus is notorious for becoming quickly outdated. However, as cloud companies share their resources among many customers (and hence generate revenue from providing these services), it allows them to stay one step ahead in the tech update battle. This, in turn, gives you far better Return on Investment (ROI) entrusting your digital resources to a cloud company.
Experts suggest data is now the world’s most valuable commodity
Recent studies suggest data has become the world’s most valuable commodity, worth more even than traditional heavyweights like gold or oil. With such a reliance in business today on IT and data, taking risks with your digital services could result in significant downtime or, worse yet, full data loss.
With a cloud company, you’ll have the peace of mind that comes from knowing you have a professional team of highly trained experts monitoring and protecting your firm’s all-important data resources.
