Cloud computing presents many benefits to your business — if you can get the CEO on board. If your company’s CEO isn’t sold on the idea of taking your business to the cloud, here are a few benefits you can use to make your case:
Lower IT Costs
Instead of buying expensive servers, systems, and other equipment — and then having to hire an IT professional or staff to maintain them — cloud computing provides those resources to your company for a monthly fee.
By using a cloud hosting provider, you may be able to reduce energy consumption. Depending on your contract, you may also be able to reduce or eliminate the cost of software upgrades and new hardware.
Flexibility
With your business operating from the cloud, your team will be able to access data from home or while on business trips. This flexibility can provide a significant boost to productivity.
You’ll also find it much easier to collaborate on projects with other employees, contractors, and other key people. This makes your work process more streamlined and efficient, providing another productivity boost.
Scalability
Most companies have a lot of fluctuation in their use of IT resources.
During slower times, you may not put a lot of demands on your IT systems, but with in-house resources you have to allow for the highest expected requirements. Otherwise, your company may fail to meet customer demands and employee needs.
This means that many businesses who have their own in-house IT resources only use a small percentage of them most of the time — which is not very cost effective, considering the high price on servers and other equipment.
With cloud hosting, on the other hand, you’ll have flexibility to scale your resources up or down as your business needs demand. You’ll cut costs by not paying for capacity you don’t actually use.
Security
With all of your business files stored in the cloud, you won’t have to worry about backups — they’ll be taken care of by your hosting provider. If something happens to your physical location, such as a fire, your data will still be secure.
The key is in finding a reliable cloud host that maintains off-site backups of its systems. By checking references and looking for reviews, you can find a good cloud host that will keep your data safe.
Customization
Depending on your cloud hosting company and the type of hosting you choose, you can tailor your cloud computing to your business needs.
There are several different types of cloud to choose from:
- Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) Cloud: This is the most common type of cloud service. It offers data storage and virtual servers to store and maintain your company’s files.
- Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) Cloud: This cloud offers a complete development platform for your company, including the operating system, database, and web server.
- Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) Cloud: Software applications are hosted by the cloud provider, accessible to your company over the internet. This form of cloud provides easier administration, automatic updates, and global accessibility.
These benefits are why more than half of micro and small businesses are using cloud-based applications (according to CNBC).
The reduced cost and increased productivity associated with cloud computing should be a win for any CEO.
About the Author: Freelance writer Angie Mansfield covers a range of topics for both small business owners and consumers. Her work addresses both businesses and people of interest, including Steve Wynn.
Photo credit: Pakorn
