Cloud Computing Services for Business

Advantages of Cloud Computing for Business

Cloud computing services have started making a real impact on the way businesses operate, and as we will discover, there are many benefits for businesses in the digital world today.

Not long ago, many businesses were held back online by poor connections to the Internet. Some companies didn’t even have a permanent link to the Internet and relied on a modem in the corner of the office, which would be turned on every so often to check emails; this all seems very distant, but we were only talking ten or fifteen years ago.
These days, however, technology has moved on, and it’s rare to find a company that doesn’t have a fast, “always-on” connection to the high-speed Internet, capable of doing so much more than merely sending and receiving electronic mail.

Reduced Expenses

First, if you use the cloud based software within your company, you can immediately see a reduced IT expenditure. Applications no longer need to be installed and maintained on individual computers, and the need to upgrade software becomes a thing of the past.

In most cases, cloud-based software is managed for you, with regular updates provided seamlessly. You can also save a large amount of money by purchasing software licenses for the number of users that will be working at any one time, rather than one for each staff member or computer.

Cloud Reduces Support Needs

You may also discover that the level of in-house IT support required by your business is significantly reduced. Many thousands of people use cloud-based software in real time, so it rarely goes wrong, and the level of support you require will be limited only to configuration and operational issues.

All maintenance and upgrades to your cloud software are done off-site by a cloud computing software provider. You never need to get involved in upgrades or maintenance yourself.

Work from Anywhere with Cloud

Because cloud-based software and files are available everywhere, your business may also benefit from allowing staff to work from home or via mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablet computers.

For example, suppose you have business salespeople who spend much time traveling. In that case, it may be more efficient for them to use a mobile device to update records and prepare quotes rather than going to a central office to use their computer.

With cloud-based file systems, essential documents and templates can be accessed from anywhere and updated in real time. Since everything is in one central location rather than on individual computers, everyone in the business is assured they are working on the latest version of the document.

Scalability

For many businesses, scalability is a factor in any IT system. If your company expands, you need the flexibility to add more resources for your staff to use quickly. Whereas this used to involve a wide range of additional hardware and software, cloud computing may only require a phone call to a cloud computing software provider asking for more licenses.

Workstations will need a basic setup with access to the Internet so you can quickly and easily add to your business workforce without getting bogged down with IT logistics. Similarly, if you need to reduce your capacity – for example, if your business is seasonal, then the opposite is usually correct, and you can scale down your business during slow periods and only pay for the software you’re using.

But How does Cloud Computing for Business Work

At this point, many managers considering deploying cloud computing in their business start to wonder: this is all very good, but how does cloud computing work? It’s natural to be curious if you’re considering putting your business and faith into a system.

Cloud computing services are provided by servers operating in data centers. Theoretically, a cloud service could run on just one server, but some servers are usually employed to increase availability and provide redundancy if a server goes wrong.

These servers may all be in one data center or spread out over different centers around the country or the world. This infrastructure means that you never know where “geographically” your file has been saved whenever you save a file or change a document. All you know is that your file is “somewhere” – hence the terminology “in the cloud.”
You can always find your files again by using your software.

This method makes your computer system incredibly robust since a copy of your data could be spread across different servers globally. The chances of the entire system going down are incredibly remote. This gives you confidence in your system and the knowledge that your data will be available whenever needed. This remote hosting across multiple servers is also a super-efficient backup service, meaning your data is secure.

These features benefit companies of all sizes if computers and files are used extensively throughout the business. Everything about cloud computing promotes the idea of sharing and collaboration and makes life a lot easier.

For example, with a central file store online, employees do not need to email each other files stored on their local computers. Data is more intelligently, and advanced features can be employed to promote more efficient working practices. For example, many software packages can inform users when necessary, such as when files need to be replaced with a new version.

Finally, perhaps one of the essential features of cloud computing is its ability to be deployed “cross-platform.” In other words, it doesn’t matter if you use a PC, Mac, iPad, or any other type of device as long as you have a supported browser and a connection to the internet.

You should be able to access a full range of services, such as email, file sharing, CRM, automated backup, collaboration, and a full suite of office applications. Users are free to decide on the hardware they wish to use, full of the knowledge that it will be compatible.

Use our Contact Details or call Call us Today for more details and cloud computing pricing from a range of providers. Service is free without obligation.