During the early years of the cloud a lot of businesses moved their IT systems from local data centers to cloud based solutions. They quickly realised that it was the right thing to do. To be at the top of the computing and IT industry you must be constantly keeping up with the upgrades and new technologies. Hosted VoIP is a prime example – it was unheard of only a few years ago, but now companies are fast to adopt this.
Through the internet the cloud has helped to create a smaller and more connected world. Over 90% of businesses now use cloud based systems for their data usage and storage. It guarantees business growth in the new field of IT which is heavily reliant on the sharing of massive amounts of data on a worldwide scale.
It’s abundantly clear that cloud based technology isn’t a phase. It’s the way forward and it’s impressive.
The benefits of using the cloud are many, however here are the three biggest advantages of moving your IT systems over to the cloud.
- Flexibility
As businesses resize during successful and less successful periods it can be a slow to update systems to fit the requirements of the business at that particular time. For retailers, it’s common to experience peaks in traffic during busy periods such as Christmas and Black Friday; coping with the increase in traffic is essential in order to not lose any business. Using cloud based systems to operate and store data allows for maximum flexibility when resizing as it can be changed at any time. During busy times extra services can be provided as needed meaning that you only pay for what you use. This is a huge step forward in comparison to traditional data systems.
A second advantage of using the cloud is that the entire system is integrated into one facility meaning that all phone lines, smart phones, laptops and tablets are connected for optimum flexibility between employees; an employee working from home will have the same access and connection quality as an employee working from the office.
- Backup
Losing data or having your system fail is extremely detrimental to the productivity and success of a business. Having a back-up system is vital for when things go wrong. Most operators offer an in-house backup option however cloud based recovery systems are rated as far more accessible with fast recovery on standby and excellent customer service during recovery. As with most cloud based systems it is extremely user friendly and generally comes at a lower cost.
Maintenance and upgrades have long been a hassle for employers and employees of any computing department with traditional waiting times as long as up to a week. With cloud based service a manager can be appointed to ensure that all upgrades and maintenance is up to date; with configuration and other tasks completed in a matter of hours.
- Security
A combination of flexibility and backup. Though many were fearful of the security features of cloud based systems it’s clear that any fears were unwarranted.
Cloud based systems are actually more secure than in-house systems. This is due to the complex combination of security features encrypting any data stored.
If a PC, laptop, or tablet is damaged or lost then any in-house data is usually lost with it. This can mean devastating losses for businesses of any size. Lost laptops mean that your office data is open to whoever comes across your device which is a huge breach of security.
Using the cloud to store all of your data means that it can be accessed via any device at any time; therefore any data stored on your broken PC can be accessed remotely using your laptop meaning that no work is lost. With the cloud you can remove data or completely wipe a laptop from a separate device, if it has been lost or cannot be repaired, ensuring that sensitive data will be fully removed from any device that is no longer in the possession of it’s rightful owner.
Data security is a top priority for any CIO; having guaranteed security leaves them with peace of mind and allows them to be more productive with other tasks.
Add user friendly control, cost savings and storage amount into the mix and you’ve got an argument for moving to the cloud that cannot be disputed!
Roger Perkin - CCIE #50038 is a Network Automation Engineer & CCIE Consultant based in the UK, currently working for Softcat Plc as a Senior Network & Security Consultant.
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