The 21st century is the era of cloud computing, or the cloud for short, ushering in excitement and a sense of innovation for small- and medium-sized businesses everywhere. Today, the two main types are cloud servers and storage/dedicated servers. Now we’re left with the following questions: What are their differences? and How will they benefit my company?
According to the 2016 State of the Cloud Report, over 95 percent of respondents have invested in cloud computing and 82 percent have adopted a multi-cloud strategy. These numbers attest to the growing popularity that cloud computing has gained, and for good reason. Yet, there are a number of business owners who are still unsure about migrating to the cloud. Here are some reasons why cloud migration is the way to go:
Economic efficiency
Cloud computing ensures that you can save money without sacrificing quality and efficiency. This is because all your hardware will be fully utilized while virtualization simultaneously increases the value of your physical server hardware — meaning that you’ll be able to do more for less. On top of that, business owners will get to enjoy decreased rack space, power usage, and IT requirements, making way for lower installation maintenance, hardware, upgrade, and support costs.
Since you’ll be paying as you go, thanks to a subscription-based model that is very cash flow-friendly. You won’t have to worry about any unexpected financial surprises, also, by paying for a monthly application for a certain a period of time – it becomes a tax-deductible operating expense.
Going green
Many organizations want to do something about global warming, and with cloud computing, your company can do the same. Besides saving more energy, you’ll be able to take advantage of the work your cloud service provider has done to reduce data centers’ carbon footprint. Think of it as saving money that you’d be spending on carbon offsets. By 2020, annual economy-wide energy savings could be over $20 billion per year — in the US alone! Imagine the impacts it can have on a global scale.
Automatic software updates
The beauty of cloud computing is that servers are located off-premise and out of your hair. Providers will manage them for you, meaning that they’re also responsible for rolling out regular software updates — including security updates — so you won’t have to waste time maintaining them yourself. This would allow you to focus on more important matters, like growing your business.
Work whenever and wherever
All you need is a stable Internet connection, and you’re good to go. This is because you’ll be able to access all your work-related files, applications and information from anywhere and at any time. Because businesses are now able to offer more flexible working perks, employees are able to work on work-life balance that suits them — without sacrificing productivity. One report suggested that over 42 percent of workers would swap a portion of their working day in exchange for the ability to telecommute — they’d also be willing to take a 6 percent pay cut as well.
Run with the big boys
If you’re looking for a simple step to make your small- and medium-sized businesses become more competitive, cloud computing is the way to go. Not only does it provide access to enterprise-level technology, it also allows smaller businesses to act faster than its bigger and more established competitors. The pay-as-you-go service and cloud-based business applications allow smaller racers to join in and give the big boys a run for their money.
With the help of cloud computing, you’ll be able to simplify work processes, cut costs, boost employee productivity and enhance your return on investment. If you’re still unsure, no problem! Allow Complete Technology Services to help make your transition to the cloud a seamless, positive and profitable experience. Don’t hesitate to give us a call or send us an email! We’re more than happy to do whatever we can to help you soar to success.