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Book an Appointment10 Reasons Why Small Businesses Should Move Their Data To The Cloud
Once you move your data to the Cloud, you'll be able to save countless hours of work; your employees will have the tools they need to work more efficiently and productively.
Why Should Small Businesses Move Their Data To The Cloud?
Small businesses have big jobs to do, so using the right technology is essential. Your employees need the best tools to get their work done, and the Cloud can provide all this.
Cloud technologies have simplified and even brought down the costs of doing business when it comes to information technology. The Cloud provides high-quality technology that was once only available to large corporations with big budgets.
However, some small businesses are still hesitant to jump on the Cloud bandwagon. If this is you, there are many reasons why you should move your data to the Cloud. We list 10 of them here.
1. Cost Savings
The Cloud provides predictable budgeting. You benefit from paying a monthly fee for cloud services that scale up and down with your business. Even better, most cloud services are pay-as-you-go. Software as a Service (SaaS) options generally let you choose subscriptions, so you only need to pay for what you need.
Because it’s a pay-as-you-go model, there are no capital expenses involved. This means cloud services can be categorized on your taxes as a service expense rather than a capital one. Your small business can write off the costs of cloud solutions in the year they were spent rather than depreciating them over 3 to 5 years as you would a capital expense.
2. Automatic Updates
Software in the Cloud is automatically updated and occurs across all your devices. There’s no more worry about whether a computer or program is running the most recent version. This includes patches and fixes as well.
Your employees will always be working from fully-updated programs and systems. The benefits of peace-of-mind are incalculable.
3. Increased Security
The increase in ransomware and malware attacks has been alarming for many small businesses. Data breaches are becoming increasingly common, and with 58 records being stolen each second at an average cost of $141 per record, your small business can’t afford this.
While not use a magical solution to all security risks? The Cloud offers a substantial increase in security for all of your IT resources. The best cloud services, like Microsoft Office 365, provide world-class protection for the infrastructure that holds your data. These services are certified and compliant with some of the world’s toughest standards providing a safe, secure place for your data.
While the storage and infrastructure challenges are met with cloud providers, you are still required to play a part in your cybersecurity. Our blog, 5 Ways To Increase Your Business IT Security, will give you insights on your responsibilities.
4. Accessibility
Is your team spread out all over the place? This is often the case nowadays. You may even be working with people from other countries. Now, anyone that you authorize can have secure access to your documents and information.
Documents stored in the Cloud are updated in real-time, so everyone has access to the most recent versions.
No more emailing documents back and forth or wondering which version of a document is the latest. Your employees will have access to your files whenever they need them.
5. Mobility
No matter if you’re traveling to another country, or just across town for a meeting, when your files are saved in the Cloud, you can work on them from anywhere. And, when you return to the office, you can pick up from where you left off.
When you combine mobile connectivity with today’s cloud solutions, your workforce can use the applications and data they need from virtually anywhere; even at highly remote sites.
6. Storage Options
If you need to add storage quickly, doing this in the Cloud is easy. You don’t have to purchase any equipment which saves you time and money.
And the number of options for data storage gives you advantages that you never had before. You can securely store applications like Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and Big Data that your company requires. Whether you need 10 GB or 100 TB of storage, you’re covered.
To make it easier to move your data to online storage, Cloud Service Providers have developed packaged storage products that allow you to capture and transfer it to the Cloud.
The number of options for storing data in the Cloud is mind-boggling. The available tools not only take advantage of storage but also let you leverage your data and files in ways you couldn’t do before the Cloud.
7. Prevent Data Loss
If a disaster occurs and your computer, backup drive or server are destroyed, your data is gone forever. If a hacker holds your data for ransom or if an employee accidentally deletes critical data, how can you keep operating your small business?
With the right cloud-based backup and recovery services, your IT service company can ensure you always have access to your data so you can keep your business running. Your important files will always be secure and available from any internet-connected device.
8. Easy Scalability
Cloud computing gives you unprecedented flexibility and scalability to upgrades when needs arise. You can scale cloud services to meet your increasing or decreasing needs. This helps small businesses that have busy seasons or slow times of the year.
You can add or delete storage and services according to your current needs. And because you pay per user, the Cloud can meet your seasonal demands as you add or remove employees. You won’t have to pay for hardware and software that goes unused during slow times of the year.
9. Document Sharing & Improved Collaboration
The Cloud enables collaboration while ensuring security. Your employees can communicate, share ideas, and work on the same documents in real-time.
No matter the time of day or how many team members need to collaborate, the process is always the same. It’s a simple, safe and stress-free way to get together with colleagues.
10. Improve Workflows
Once you move your data to the Cloud, you’ll be able to save countless hours of work; your employees will have the tools they need to work more efficiently and productively.
No more relying on traditional paper-based workflows. The Cloud provides opportunities for them to be partially or entirely digitized. This allows for paper-free and instant communication between your employees or branch offices.
- You can track work by the location, day and hour.
- Shipment information is available in real-time and at a moment’s notice.
- Invoicing software in the Cloud syncs with accounting software to avoid duplication of efforts.
Automation with machine learning plays an enormous role in optimizing workflows and predicting problems before they occur. With workflows based in the Cloud, you can automate or semi-automate many business processes.
We hope this will get you thinking and exploring how your small business can benefit by moving your data to the Cloud. To learn more about how migration to the Cloud can benefit your business, contact C3 Integrated Solutions.
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