In the modern day, data management has become more important than ever for organizations around the world. The introduction of cloud computing has allowed countless organizations to streamline their business processes all while reducing costs. With 85% of enterprises expected to have their first cloud-principle by 2025 alone, it’s clear that cloud computing is the way of the future.
With this in mind, however, not all businesses are aware of the numerous benefits that cloud computing can offer. Rather than being a part of this group, avoid leaving money and business on the table by learning what are the benefits of migrating to the cloud and more.
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What is Cloud Computing?
For those unfamiliar, cloud computing refers to the on-demand delivery of IT resources via the Internet. All organizations have data, but in the past, that data was stored in large servers that sat on-site within an office building. Nowadays, however, cloud computing allows organizations to access servers via the Internet, even if those servers are hundreds or thousands of miles away on a data farm.
By using a network of remote servers which contact the physical servers stored in another location, companies can manage, process, and interact with data from anywhere in the world rather than be tied to a local server or computer.
Why is Cloud Computing Important?
There are a number of reasons that cloud computing is better than traditional computing, but the biggest reason is due to the scalability it offers. When accessing servers via the cloud, a business has access to nearly unlimited storage space as they can always pay to gain greater access to the cloud. This applies to the resources that those servers offer as well.
With a traditional server, however, a business is locked into the number of servers that they have on-site at a specific time. This benefit also works in the opposite direction as well. If your business no longer needs access to a certain amount of data, access to the cloud can always be cut back.
7 Benefits of Migrating to the Cloud
There are a number of primary benefits that come from migrating to the cloud, though additional benefits may emerge depending on the purpose of your business. Keep in mind that it will take some time before these benefits are seen in a business following migration. The following seven benefits are the most notable for keeping in mind when considering migrating your IT resources to the cloud:
1. A Reduction in Overall Costs
Perhaps the biggest benefit the cloud offers to businesses is the fact that an organization only needs to pay for exactly what they use. With traditional computing, you may only need a fraction of what is offered by the package a computing provider offers. However, cloud services are completely customizable to a business which can help that business save tens of thousands of dollars yearly.
2. Better Visibility Into Insightful Customer Data
The data visibility provided by cloud service is far greater than that offered by any traditional computing organization. Cloud-based analytics take the data that is existing within the cloud, along with utilizing cloud tools meant for analyzing data to offer key insights. This information can be used to optimize CapEx vs. OpEx cloud spend, target advertisements towards specific consumers, and so much more.
3. Improved Security Measures
Despite physical servers not being present, cloud computing is far more secure than on-premise computing in the majority of situations. Cloud providers often have greater control over data and resources at a greater scale than individual businesses. This allows those providers to offer newer security measures on a consistent basis, including measures such as two-factor authentication, which can be used to safeguard data and prevent leaks.
4. Better Scalability for Your Business
As mentioned, one of the primary benefits of cloud computing is that it is easily scalable. With on-premise computing, an organization may need to pay for additional servers in order to scale its business. For rapidly growing businesses, though, faster scaling can help to reduce the business impact that comes from downtime. All it takes to gain access to more cloud computing software is reaching out to your provider and requesting access to more, in addition to paying an added fee for that access.
5. Increased Access for Members of Your Organization From Anywhere
In the modern day of working remotely, allowing your workforce to access company servers from anywhere has numerous benefits. By using a cloud provider, your employees can access necessary files from any approved area in the world using remote desktops. This benefit would never have been possible with on-site computing that did not utilize the Internet for connections.
6. The Preservation of Business Continuity
Having data hosted and secured off-site helps to prevent data loss from natural disasters, cyberattacks, and much more. By preserving the continuity of your business, you can reduce the amount of downtime your business has, which can save you time and money. It can also increase the reputation of your business among customers by enhancing the speed and ensuring their data is always protected.
7. Better Business Compliance
Cloud computing can enhance business compliance by providing access to various control features and helping businesses monitor performance and data. In the event of an audit or other similar situations, this data can be used to meet governmental requests and other compliance or regulation needs. Additionally, this enhanced record-keeping will help internal matters or internal audits.
8. Increase Productivity in Your Organization
All businesses can see numerous benefits from the cloud when migration is completed successfully. Be aware that migration cannot be performed overnight and will more than likely take a long time to troubleshoot so that all of the above benefits are received. To expedite the process, migrate one department within your organization at a time and hire a cloud expert to join your IT team. With the right preparation, all businesses can benefit from a migration to the cloud.
