10 Cloud Computing Benefits for Your Business

Whether you know it or not, you’re probably using cloud-based computing right now. Do you use online services to listen to music, play games, or store photos and files? Cloud computing makes that possible.

Cloud computing is only ten years old. Yet many businesses, people, and organisations rely on it. Small startups to giant corporations depend on cloud computing every day. Cloud computing is most often used for:

Cloud computing changed the way businesses think about information technology (IT). The Australian Bureau of Statistics shows 31 percent of businesses operated in the cloud during 2015-2016. That’s up from 19% the previous year. The businesses most often used cloud computing services and data storage.

A simple definition of cloud computing is computing on the internet. Before, people used software programs downloaded onto a computer or on-site server. Cloud-based computing allows everyone to access the same applications via the internet.

Cloud-based communication is the new normal. Businesses talk to their customers via social media, text, messaging, and online chat. This is all cloud-based communication.

Let’s look at 10 cloud computing benefits that improve any organisation.

1.  Flexible Agility

Cloud-based services are perfect for businesses that are growing. As needs grow you can increase your cloud capacity. The could service gives you more space on their remote servers. On the other side, if your business is seasonal, or you need to scale back, that’s easy to do.

An on-site data center means you’re responsible for hardware, software, and other IT tasks. Use a cloud provider and your staff can focus on business goals.

Cloud computing is fast so employees can access resources immediately. Staff gets results with a few clicks. Your company stays productive and flexible as you grow. The company stays competitive since you only pay for the services you need.

2. Reliable Protection

Cloud computing makes backing up your data easier. It also protects you from expensive disaster recovery. Cloud computing benefits your company if you experience:

Despite damage at your physical location, your data is safe. You continue to operate since your data is on redundant sites in your cloud network. This reliability reduces data disaster recovery expenses.

3. Server and Software Maintenance

Your cloud provider handles the server and software maintenance and security. You don’t have to spend time or effort on the technical aspects of your data. Instead, you can focus on growing your business.

4. No Capital Expenditures

Cloud computing eliminates setup and management costs for software, staff, and hardware. You start using services immediately. Instead of buying and installing IT equipment, you pay for services as needed. You can expand or subtract services as you go.

5. Improved Collaboration

Cloud computing lets teams access, manipulate, and share documents anytime from any location. Teamwork and collaborate are easy with cloud-based workflows. Staff can share files, make updates in real time, and see what everyone on the team is doing.

6. Virtual Office Options

Cloud computing lets you work from anywhere you have an internet connection. Most cloud services offer mobile apps, so you can work on many devices.

Why is this a benefit? Because your company can offer flexible work options to your employees. Employees get work-life balance without sacrificing productivity. You can keep key staff who move to other areas. You can attract talent from other locations.

Australian stats show almost one-quarter of Australian workers (24%) worked at least part of their time from home.

The report shows the benefits of teleworking for employers include:

Teleworking via a cloud-based workflow has benefits for both employees and employers. The result is more resilience for the company which is good for everyone.

7. Control Over Documents

Collaborative efforts are productive, but they also need control. A cloud-based workflow helps you control documents.

In the past, we emailed documents to one person at a time. Each person made updates, then sent files back. The back and forth between collaborators often resulted in a variety of formats.

Cloud-computing ends the confusion and complication. Data is in a central location. Everyone sees the same document version. Improved visibility leads to better collaboration. Productivity increases which benefit the bottom line.

8. Data Security

When your data is in the cloud it reduces vulnerability for a lost or stolen laptop. It’s bad enough to lose the laptop, but the data on it could be sensitive.

Your data is accessible via the cloud no matter what happens to your computer. More important, you can remote wipe data from a laptop that isn’t secured. That keeps your information safe and out of the wrong hands.

9. Stay Competitive

One of the benefits of cloud computing is delivery of the right amount of services and resources. Businesses get the exact storage, bandwidth, and computing applications needed. Adjustments are easy as needs change. There’s no downtime or disruption when a business needs to expand its storage or bandwidth.

The smallest startup can access enterprise level technology. Small companies can compete with large ones. Every business can compete since cloud services are fast, efficient, and up-to-date.

10. Environmental Benefits

Besides the benefits for your company, cloud computing is good for the environment. When your server capacity fluctuates, so does your energy usage. You only use the energy you need. This reduces your carbon footprint.

The bottom line is these 10 benefits are a good reason to move your business to the cloud. Next, let’s examine the categories of cloud computing services.

Three Types of Cloud Services

Most cloud computing services fall into three categories:

You may hear these called a cloud computing stack. That refers to the fact that they are often built on top of each other. We’ll look at each one so you can decide what you need to meet your business goals.

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)

IaaS is basic cloud computing services. A company rents IT infrastructure from a cloud provider. That includes servers, storage, networks, and operating systems. It’s a pay-as-you-go platform, usually paid as a monthly subscription.

Platform as a Service (PaaS)

PaaS cloud computing provides a place to develop, test, deliver, and manage software apps. It’s a way for developers to create mobile or web apps without building any infrastructure. Developers can create and refine apps without buying and managing servers, networks, and databases.

Software as a service (SaaS)

SaaS delivers software applications over the Internet. The applications are on demand and usually by subscription. SaaS cloud providers host and manage the software applications and infrastructure. The provider takes care of software upgrades and security patching. SaaS users most often connect to the application over the Internet through a web browser.

Deploying Resources

There are three different ways to deploy cloud computing resources.

Public Cloud

Public clouds are owned and operated by a third-party provider. The provider delivers resources like servers and storage over the Internet. All the hardware, software, and infrastructure is owned and managed by the provider. You access your account through a web browser.

Private Cloud

A private cloud is used by a single business or organisation. It may be in the company’s own data center, or off-site. Sometimes a business pays a third-party service provider to host a private cloud. All the services and infrastructure are maintained on a private network.

Hybrid Cloud

A hybrid cloud shares data and applications between public and private clouds. This gives businesses flexibility and more deployment options.

Each type of cloud computing service works a bit differently. It depends on the service provider. Most make it easy for businesses to run their companies in a safe and efficient way.

Integration Opportunities

Another cloud computing benefit is the way you can integrate cloud services with other services. This gives business another way to increase productivity and save money.

Here are a few ways cloud computing can connect with other systems your business uses.

These are only a few examples of ways to customise internal or proprietary systems. It’s a good way to save money by avoiding expensive custom integrations.

Cloud Computing Benefits

Cloud technology took the fragmented types of communication and connected them. This makes communication between businesses, staff, and customers better than ever.

Cloud computing benefits every type of company. Now, every business has access to these affordable solutions.

Want to work in the cloud? Contact us for the latest on technology employment opportunities.