Benefits of moving to the cloud
Benefits of moving to the cloud
It’s time to move to the cloud.
It is no secret that small and medium businesses (SMB) are the backbone of the UK’s economy. They provide job opportunities for over 60% of the population and serve as an engine for our country’s growth and innovation. Not every organisation can be GlaxoSmithKline or Coca Cola but remember most of today’s multi-billion-pound businesses had very humble beginnings.
There can be multiple criteria’s used to classify a small business or medium enterprise including capital investment, annual revenue, types of employees, or scale or type of operations so this means that even a small business may need enterprise sized IT resources, and this is where cloud computing can really support your organisation. The Cloud is one of the few high-end technologies that is equally accessible to every size of business, removing the entry barriers for SMBs that they may find with non-cloud products on volume licensing where overall size still has advantages – So cloud computing is a great leveller.
Below, we highlight the benefits for the use of cloud both in the short term in quick win scenarios as well as aiming for those longer-term strategic goals.
Flexible Access
Once a unique user has been created on the cloud, the employee can access the cloud (with the right permissions) using multiple device platforms and locations.
Ease of Collaboration
Today’s workforce is quite diverse and at times, physically dispersed as well. As the data is centrally maintained in any cloud solution, the physical distance does not hamper efficiency.
Improved Security
The good thing about a cloud solution is that all the data is maintained at a central location, whether in house or with a CSP. It is administratively much convenient to secure a centralized database from cyber threats as compared to data that is stored sporadically across many devices.
Efficiency
Whether in house or outsourced, the servers used to centrally store the data are quite superior in performance. Secondly, all the productivity related applications and software also run over the cloud network. So even if the devices of a small business are somewhat obsolete, the overall efficiency will remain unaffected. Employee productivity extends beyond the physical boundaries of the workplace.
Flexibility
Cloud solutions are highly flexible from the perspective of both the small business and its employees. As the company hires additional workforce, it will not have to purchase additional personal computers. Rather, a new unique user will be created for each new employee and they are good to go.
Scalability
Typically, if a small business plans to increase its operations, it will have to procure additional IT hardware to support the new staff. In the event of a downsizing, all the capital expenditures incurred to procure the additional hardware will be rendered fruitless. If the cloud solution is outsourced to a CSP, the only cost of up scaling will be an additional fee for each new user. Similarly, if a small business wants to avail a new productivity software from the CSP, it can be commissioned within a few minutes, just by paying a nominal usage fee.
Compatability
Whether in house or outsourced, all the data and applications are maintained at a central location. Any update, security or performance related patch will have to be installed at a single location. Its effect will automatically transpire to each existing and new user.
Remote Work
This is a growing reality as we recover from the recent lockdown and pandemic. 2 in 3 SMB’s in the UK now support remote workforces with one of the main competitive advantages of SMBs is cost related efficiencies. A reliable cloud computing solution such as Microsoft 365 Azure Virtual Desktop or Windows 365 can serve as a seamless, secure remote work platform for your employees. Whether remote work is voluntary or due to unforeseen circumstances, it can result in cost savings for SMBs.
Business Continuity (BC)
Unlike large enterprises that have larger resources and ample capacity to absorb shocks, SMBs are very susceptible to factors that can potentially affect smooth functioning. Cloud computing provides unrivalled Business Continuity (BC) to SMBs at a fraction of the costs of developing such mechanisms on premise. Whether its disruption that is caused by natural or man-made events, your small business is quite likely to remain immune from its effects, primarily because of Cloud Computing. With Disaster Recovery (DR) built into the cloud service, your small or medium business enjoys strong BC in the wake of crises.