9 Benefits of Cloud Computing for Businesses

Cloud computing is one of the most significant technological advances in recent history. It has revolutionized the way businesses operate, and it will only become more prevalent in the years to come. 

Here are nine reasons why cloud computing is a must for your business.

Cost Savings with Cloud Computing

Cloud computing can help your business save money. Traditional IT infrastructure is expensive to maintain and upgrade. With cloud computing, you only pay for your resources, and you can scale up or down as needed. 

Some businesses worry about the cost associated with a cloud-based approach. However, most companies that switch to cloud computing report cost savings rather than reduced ROI. 

In a study by IDG Research, 45% of respondents said they realized lower storage and infrastructure costs, and 27% reported they eliminated compliance-related legal fees.

Reliability in IT Support and More

Cloud computing is also more reliable than on-premises infrastructure. There are no hardware or software failures to worry about, and cloud providers have multiple redundancies to ensure your data is always safe and accessible.

IT support providers can focus on employee pain points, rather than dealing with a messy server room.

Flexibility with Scale

As mentioned, cloud computing allows your business to scale up or down as needed. For example, if you have a seasonal business, you can use cloud resources only during peak seasons and save money during off-peak seasons. 

Or, if you experience a surge in demand, you can quickly add more cloud resources to accommodate the increase.

Cloud computing is highly scalable in terms of the resources you use. If you need more resources, you can add them to your account. This is perfect for businesses that experience spikes in demand or seasonal fluctuations.

Improved Collaboration and Innovation

Cloud-based applications make it easy for employees to collaborate, no matter where they are. This can lead to better communication and a more productive workforce. 

Teams can share information quickly, and some cloud solutions offer collaborative social spaces for more employee engagement and interest. The cloud is great for sparking innovation, as well. 

The same IDG Research report says that respondents can:

• Reduce time to market on new products and features
• Develop new products and services
• Increase market share
• Measure customer behavior (and re-engineer products accordingly)
• Test new technology (with a low cost of entry)
• Pivot to new technology more easily
• Improve analytical and logic capabilities 

Increased Productivity

The flexibility and scalability of cloud computing can also lead to increased productivity. When employees can work from anywhere, they aren’t tied to their desks.

The flexibility cloud solutions offer allows your team to work more efficiently and get more done in less time.

Better Customer Service

Improved collaboration and increased productivity can also lead to better customer service. Businesses can respond quickly to customer inquiries and resolve issues more efficiently with cloud computing.

Enhanced Security with Cybersecurity

Cloud providers invest heavily in security, and they have the resources to keep your data safe. With cloud computing, you can benefit from the latest security technologies without worrying about the cost or maintenance. 

Cloud computing encrypts data transmitted over the network and stored in company databases. 

Most cloud service providers come with other built-in security features, other than encryption. They offer access control and role-based authentication to keep data safe.

Improved Disaster Recovery

Cloud-based applications and data are stored remotely, so they are not at risk of being lost or damaged in the event of a disaster. 

This can help your business recover from interruptions quickly and avoid costly downtime. Cloud users recover data and functionality much quicker than non-cloud users, resulting in more productivity and less revenue loss.

Traditional data centers are easily taken down by fire, flood, or other natural disasters. Data on the cloud is recoverable, almost always.

Sustainability with Cloud Computing

Cloud computing can also help your business reduce its carbon footprint. Using cloud resources can eliminate the need for on-premises hardware and data centers. This can lead to reduced energy consumption and a more negligible environmental impact. 

Traditional data centers consume a lot of energy (1% of global energy consumption). When a company accesses a cloud provider’s resources on an as-needed basis, it is taking advantage of efficiency that’s good for the planet.

These are just a few of the many benefits of cloud computing for businesses. If you haven’t already made the switch, now is the time to do so.

Are you looking to move to the cloud? Get in touch with us and we will show you the way!