5 WAYS TO USE CLOUD TO RUN YOUR BUSINESS

Cloud computing provides a way for your business to manage your computing resources online – using a third party for your storage and computing needs.

Cloud computing allows businesses to access their information virtually, creating a flexible and global way of accessing your data any place, any time. It allows you to set up what is essentially a virtual office to give you the flexibility of connecting to your business anywhere, any time. With the growing number of web-enabled devices used in today’s business environment (e.g. smartphones, tablets), access to your data is even easier. Cloud computing is a huge business development, particularly for businesses with multiple offices or remote employees who aren’t linked by a single physical network.

Just imagine, even when over the internet, cloud allows you the convenience of running your business. In what specific ways, here they are.

To collaborate with co-workers from different locations through file sharing

Collaboration in a cloud environment gives your business the ability to communicate and share more easily outside of the traditional office methods. If you are working on a project across different locations, you could use cloud computing to give employees, contractors and third parties access to the same files. You could also choose a cloud computing model that makes it easy for you to share your records with your advisers (e.g. a quick and secure way to share accounting records with your accountant or financial adviser). No more need for emails, faxes, attachments or physical delivery of printed documents.

To work off-site

Cloud computing allows employees to be more flexible in their work practices. You have the ability to access data from home, while on a holiday, or even during the commute to and from work on your mobile devices. If you need access to your data while you are off-site, you can connect to your virtual office, quickly and easily. And when you work offsite, you usually save money – on transportation and fuel, electricity, and purchase of hardware and software.

To expand storage potential

With an increase in business comes more data. That data has to be stored somewhere. Instead of regularly buying new hard drives and external hard drives, many businesses have turned to cloud services. Cloud services are constantly expanding, and some offer a large amount of space at a premium price.

You can set your computers to remotely back up data to the cloud at certain intervals. If the worst case scenario happens and your computers are down, you’ll retain all of your data, since it’ll be stored remotely. You don’t have to worry about getting the computer repaired, either — since the data is remotely stored, you’ll be able to access everything from any computer.

To increase security and reliability

When you use a cloud-computing solution, your business data resides in a secure, offsite location and will be backed up frequently or automatically and sometimes even geo-redundantly (in multiple locations). These data-backup features provide greater peace of mind as well as business continuity should disaster or unexpected disruptions to your business occur. Furthermore, you’ll likely experience greater reliability when using a cloud service, especially if your business has limited IT resources, since cloud service providers have experienced IT staff and better access to the latest technologies.

To run your business with significantly reduced IT costs and overhead

Moving to cloud computing may reduce the cost of managing and maintaining your IT systems. Rather than purchasing expensive systems and equipment for your business, you can reduce your costs by using the resources of your cloud computing service provider. You may be able to reduce your operating costs because:

• the cost of system upgrades, new hardware and software may be included in your contract
• you no longer need to pay wages for expert staff
• your energy consumption costs may be reduced
• there are fewer time delays.