Chances are, you’re considering some upgrades to your systems and applications. While you’ve heard other business owners talk about cloud technology, you may not clearly know what benefits you would see in your day-to-day operations. Here are a few examples of how cloud technology and cloud applications improve processes for businesses:
Data Accessibility and Storage: With a cloud-based data center, you enjoy real-time access to data to make better-informed decisions. Any time any data is updated, that update carries across all devices, making it easy to know that the numbers you’re considering are consistent across the board.
In addition, cloud data storage offers innumerable benefits, including saving the space and expense required by an on-site data center. You also equip your team with a consistent work experience, allowing them to access data from any connected device.
Multicloud Computing: One option that’s useful for businesses beginning their use of cloud technology is the multicloud environment. This utilizes a combination of on-site, legacy systems with either public or private cloud solutions to optimize cost savings, security, and productivity.
For companies with highly-customized on-site solutions, or that work in an industry such as finance or healthcare where compliance regulations are rigorous, a multicloud approach allows you to place workloads where they make the most sense.
A multicloud environment can become complex, so you may want to consider a management tool that places all your systems and network management on a single dashboard.
Disaster Recovery: Using the cloud to strengthen your disaster recovery policy is a great way to leverage cloud technology. Hosted data centers are generally spread across geographic areas, so data backed up in the cloud won’t be impacted by a natural disaster. The real-time nature of cloud data backup also means that when you access your data, it will be up to date.
IaaS and PaaS: For smaller companies or startups, the ability to subscribe to an infrastructure as a service (IaaS) or a platform as a service (PaaS) helps you access the same technology that more prominent companies utilize. Rather than making a capital investment, IaaS and PaaS can be categorized as operating expenses and purchased through a monthly invoice. They are also scalable, equipping you to grow in the future.
Testing Applications: Cloud technology allows your company to test programs and applications from the public cloud. You can change parameters and make performance improvements without the costly and time-consuming process of installing hardware and software, helping you get your application to market sooner.
If you would like to talk more about how cloud technology might offer cost savings, streamlined productivity, or increased security for your business, contact us at Cloud Source. We can help you assess your needs and determine which initial cloud application would bring the most measurable benefit for a first investment.