The use of cloud computing is on the rise in businesses both big and small. It offers a number of benefits that can help companies save time and money. If you don’t know what it is, it’s a system that allows businesses to store data online so that they can access it anywhere and at any time. You can use it to host software, backup data, work remotely and more. Although it can occasionally have some drawbacks, most people are beginning to agree that it’s the best way for small businesses to run their IT systems. With a cloud service, you don’t need to own any servers and there’s less risk of extensive downtime. If you’re not sure whether you should use a cloud service, here are some great uses for them.
Backing Up Data
Many businesses have a lot of valuable data that they need to store safely and securely. Were that information to be lost, it could cost them dearly. Although you can backup data on-site, it means that everything is still kept internally. But if your business uses a cloud service to store copies of your important information, you know that it’s stored on a server somewhere off-site too. Some people might have worries about security, but using a cloud service is very secure. Having your data elsewhere means that it is safe from any disasters that might occur on-site, such as theft or a natural disaster.
Remote Working
Many modern businesses now have offices and employees all over the world, thanks to the internet. If your company is one of them, cloud computing can help you immensely. If everything you need to work is hosted at a central location, you can access it using the cloud, no matter where you are. Anyone can use the software, files or data they need to gain access to by logging on and doing what they need to do. Everything that any individual alters will be synced with what everyone else sees. So there’s no multiple versions of important documents floating about. You can have your office with your wherever you go.
Easy Collaboration
Cloud computing also makes it easy for employees to collaborate with each other, whether they’re in the same office or in different countries. For example, using a software package such as Xero, used by Accountancy Anywhere, allows anyone who needs it access to bookkeeping information. They can also see the data that comes in from attached third-party apps. There’s no need for everyone to be in the same room or to email information back and forth. Everyone can work using the cloud-based software and everything they do is reflected in real time for everyone else.
Planning for Growth
Using cloud-based software and data storage makes scaling your business much easier. It’s easy to scale your cloud services as your business grows, adding more space and gradually increasing the fees you pay for the service. You don’t need to make an enormous investment in the beginning or pay large sums of money to expand or switch services.
All these incredible uses for cloud computing should convince you that your business needs to start using it as soon as possible. It will save you time and money, as well as increasing productivity in your company.