Cloud Computing: Future-Proof Your Business

Cloud computing offers your business many benefits. It allows you to set up what is essentially a virtual office to give you the flexibility of connecting to your business anywhere, any time. With the growing number of web-enabled devices used in today’s business environment (e.g. smartphones, tablets), access to your data is even easier.

Cloud services are taking the business world by storm and cloud adoption statistics tell the same story. In fact, 94% of enterprises already use a cloud service. Today, cloud computing serves as an opportunity for small businesses to get access to high-end technologies, which was earlier restricted only to large IT companies.

Service models

Cloud computing can be broken down into three cloud computing models:

Infrastructure as a service (IaaS): provides access to server hardware, storage, network capacity and other fundamental computing resources.
Platform as a service (PaaS): provides access to basic operating software and services to develop and use customer-created software applications.
Software as a service (SaaS): provides integrated access to a provider’s software applications.

Here are some of the many benefits cloud computing help modern organisations:

Reduced IT Cost
One of the most remarkable benefits of Cloud Computing is certainly considerable savings in company’s IT costs. You do not need to spend for the purchase of inventory such as infrastructure and hard disk. You are only charged a low cost for regular compensation per month or once paid, according to the agreed service package with the Cloud Computing service provider. Thus, the royalty fees on automated software licenses are reduced, because they all run with Cloud-based computing. You may be able to reduce your operating costs because:

• the cost of system upgrades, new hardware and software may be included in your contract
• you no longer need to pay wages for expert staff
• your energy consumption costs may be reduced
• there are fewer time delays.

Access to automatic updates
Access to automatic updates for your IT requirements may be included in your service fee. Depending on your cloud computing service provider, you will receive round the clock maintenance of cloud servers – including security updates – freeing up time and money that businesses spend doing this in-house. This could include up-to-date versions of software, as well as upgrades to servers and computer processing power.

The cloud is always on
Have you ever made the unfortunate mistake of forgetting an important file at work. Maybe your flash drive didn’t properly save it or maybe your email to yourself never went through.
If you need access to your data while you are off-site, you can connect to your virtual office, quickly and easily. You don’t have to rush all the way back to the office to grab something from your server if you’re on the cloud. The cloud is always on, so if you have an Internet connection you can get the applications you need from literally anywhere.

Security
Data security has been one of the hot topics of recent years, with tougher regulations introduced in order to ensure more robust protection. RapidScale claims that 94% of businesses saw an improvement in security after switching to the cloud, and 91% said the cloud makes it easier to meet government compliance requirements.

Cloud providers like Insight IT go to great lengths to ensure that data is kept secure. They are tasked with protecting data from being accessed by unauthorized users, and this is something they do very effectively using robust encryption. Cloud providers also usually give individual clients the freedom to determine their own security settings and restrictions.

Ease of installation and maintenance
Cloud computing requires no hardware or software installation or maintenance.

Collaboration Efficiency
Cloud Computing model enables your business to communicate and share more easily outside of the traditional methods. It allows better collaboration between employees, enabling multiple users to share and work on data and files at the same time. Cloud makes it simple for the company’s design and construction experts, who invest much of their time on job sites overseas or across various areas, to get work related information, documents and records quickly and in a secure way.

Disaster Recovery & Backup
Disasters are unavoidable. Moreover, there is little we can do to prevent them. Consequently, these IT disasters may cause organizations unproductive hours and financial losses.
Cloud-based software offers faster disaster recovery. It provides off-site backup for all your business data. Apart from that, you don’t need to invest in expensive backup and recovery systems.

Sustainability
Cloud computing is helping out organizations to reduce their carbon footprint. Organizations utilize only the amount of resources they need, which helps them to avoid any over-provisioning. Hence, no waste of resources and thus energy.

Cloud computing is no longer an upcoming trend – it has successfully taken over most industries’ online processes. The high level of security, cost-effectiveness, flexibility, and high scalability are undeniable benefits.

Getting started with the cloud seems like it would be complicated, but it’s really not compared to installing a brand new local server. We can help you seamlessly migrate, give as a call at 1300 911 000 or send us an email.