Cloud Services Add Value to Minnesota Businesses. Here’s Why.
Cloud computing has become a crucial tool for many businesses. This is especially true as companies explore remote work, work from home, and hybrid working environments. Broadband internet and affordable mobile devices make cloud computing more convenient and accessible than ever. However, some businesses are still hesitating to complete the upgrade to the cloud. Let’s look at what cloud computing is and how it can benefit your company.
What Is Cloud Computing?
Cloud computing is the delivery of computing services over the internet. It’s typically offered with a pay-as-you-go structure. There are several different kinds of clouds available. These include public, private, and hybrid clouds.
- Public clouds are owned and operated by outside providers. These are typically accessed via a web browser.
- A private cloud is cloud computing used by a single business. It can be physically located in your office or contracted from a third-party service provider. Multiple companies may contract with that service provider and share a cloud.
- Hybrid clouds are a flexible combination of the two. These allow data to move between public and private clouds.
So, what kind of computing services are offered through the cloud? This covers almost everything your business may be doing with their existing network of in-house computers. You may be able to access services like:
- applications
- data storage
- file backups
- email services
- processing
- and more
Instead of having a personal copies of applications, or an in-house bank of hard drives for backups, you rent access to a third-party system. This has several advantages over buying, installing, and maintaining the tech yourself.
What Are The Benefits of Moving to the Cloud?
One of the leading benefits of moving to a cloud system is cost-efficiency. If you’re handling your computing needs in-house, you’ll need to pay for the equipment and software. Then your IT department will have to install everything. You’ll need a dedicated space for this equipment, and it may require more than you think. If a security patch is dropped or something breaks down, it’s down to your people to fix the issue.
With cloud services, the company you’ve contracted handles all of the initial expenses and the maintenance. You’ll have employee time freed up, along with physical space in the office building. If there’s a problem, the service provider will fix it. This can save you a lot of money.
However, cloud services don’t just help your budget. They can also help you earn more. The cloud environment may increase collaboration, communication, and productivity among teams. Employees working in different locations access the same files and communicate in real-time. If two people need to use the same application, they can. They aren’t limited to the one in-house computer powerful enough to run that advanced application.
What about data security? Are your programs and files at greater risk if they are kept in the cloud? Actually, your company’s information could be even more secure. The cloud host prioritizes its clients’ data security. They monitor access, stay abreast of cybercrime trends, and invest in the best security programs available.
Cloud services can also let you know about possible internal data theft. This gives you the information you need to track down internal gaps in security and protect business data.
Are Cloud Services A Good Fit for Your Business?
Transitioning to cloud services requires an investment of time and money, as well as an adjustment period for your existing personnel. Is this the right choice for your company? Here are seven reasons why cloud services may be the perfect solution for your business:
Your company is exploring remote and hybrid work solutions.
The right cloud service plan allows employees to log in and access all the tools they need from any place with a stable internet connection. These remote plans also include data security measures, keeping company information private.
You have a smaller IT department.
If your IT staff are overwhelmed by your growing computing needs, you may want to outsource some IT functions. A cloud provider can step in, freeing up your own people to focus on more critical tasks.
It’s time for a better data backup or disaster recovery solution.
The cloud is easy to deploy and can perform many backup functions automatically. If you’re worried about your company’s current ability to bounce back from data loss, see what services your cloud provider is offering.
Your company’s needs have outstripped your existing computer structure.
You’ve grown quickly and now need access to pricey applications or a large amount of data storage. A cloud service can be highly cost-effective compared to investing in all of these upgrades.
There’s a big shift in customer demand from one season to the next.
Cloud computing plans can be modified to match your current needs. You’ll have the safety net of upgrading on the fly for customer demand surges without needing to pay higher costs every single month.
It’s been a while since your last hardware or software upgrade.
Upgrading can be expensive, especially if you have to replace equipment or purchase subscriptions for specialized programs. The process may also take time and interfere with productivity while the upgrade is being performed. Meanwhile, cloud services are affordable and work from day one without requiring any tinkering with in-house equipment.
You have a complicated application infrastructure.
If you and your employees are juggling multiple advanced applications, a cloud-based system may work out better than in-house programs. The cloud service provider probably has the latest versions and the most advanced programs available for a monthly fee.
Would you like to learn more about what cloud services can do for your Bloomington or Minneapolis business? Contact DTS today, and we’ll be happy to help you explore your options.