Cloud computing has brought with it many benefits for businesses, transforming the way data is accessed, stored and utilised. Some of the key benefits of cloud computing include;
- Enhanced disaster recovery. Storing data in the cloud takes away the onus on business to provide their own complex disaster recovery strategies. Instead many cloud providers will have their own disaster recovery plans in place to protect your data, which are often more efficient and faster than internal strategies.
- Improved Flexibility. The storage capacity of cloud options and other important features such as bandwidth facilities are highly flexible and can easily be reduced or increased at a moment’s notice to meet with the demands of a business.
- Automatic Updates. Software often needs to be updated which can be a costly and timely procedure if it is hosted on private, internal servers. With cloud computing, software updates are automatic and can be done out of hours helping businesses avoid any potential downtime.
- Improved access and collaboration. Cloud solutions allow employees to access software and systems from anywhere in the world- letting them easily work together on synced documents and shared apps. It also means that employees no longer have to be office based allowing for more flexibility with telecommuting and work hours.
- Better control. When files are stored on a cloud based application instead of workers individual workstations it takes away the need to email the latest version to other employees. The latest version of the file can be synced to the application straight away and changes can be easily identified by author. This makes collaboration easier and improves efficiency for businesses.
- Data stored on physical hard drives and computers is open to security breaches if the computer or hard drive is compromised. However, data stored in the cloud can be accessed and protected at any time if there is a threat to its security.
- Reduce carbon footprint. Cloud computing options mean that businesses no longer need the same amount of hardware (servers, physical workstations etc) that they once did. Allowing them to reduce their running costs in electricity and general wastage when equipment needs to be upgraded.
Cloud computing allows businesses to reform the way they operate, cutting costs, money and improving employee efficiency.
