- Improved collaboration
Cloud-based programs can be used at any time on just about any device with an Internet connection, a benefit that results in greater collaboration, especially for businesses with remote workers. An increasing percentage of small- and midsize businesses believe the ability to become productive remotely as crucial to their operations: 66 percent stated they will need to allow workers to work anywhere at any time, according to a 2010 poll by Microsoft.
- Connecting with peers
Employees can also connect through instant messaging and also hold impromptu meetings with strong audio, video and web conferencing capabilities. Some cloud-based services also make it feasible to include clients and sellers in these meetings. This enhanced sharing of information has the potential to empower your organization to respond more quickly to business opportunities.
- Managing growth
Cloud resources can be seen as elastic, which means it is possible to tap resources or raise capacity to support growth and manage busy periods. Among the most challenging facets of running a small business is predicting what assets your company will need. This has to be enough to scale and take advantage of opportunities, but not so much that you overspend. With network performance monitoring, instead of needing to forecast your needs, you are able to respond to needs as they arise and use exactly what is required to handle your growth and boost your efficiency. By way of instance, if project and customer demands require greater cooperation, you can get collaboration tools fast and with no advanced planning. Your flexibility as a company climbs when you operate in the cloud as your ability to respond is greatly improved.
- Lower costs
Cloud-based Services can save you money on several fronts, including server maintenance, cooling and power expenses, and software licensing and upgrade expenses. Just under half use cloud calculating to lower prices, according to the Microsoft poll. Instead of spending money to keep hardware that often goes unused, subscribing to applications and solutions for a low monthly fee can help small businesses stretch their budgets further. Together with the capability to scale up to meet increased demand, the cloud also lets you scale down during slower periods (e.g., remove users or use less storage space), saving your organization money.
- Secure data backup
If you do not have the resources or time to implement a backup strategy, or even should you maintain your backed-up data on site, the cloud will help ensure you have the ability to retrieve the most recent versions of your information in the event of an onsite system failure or a disaster, such as flood or fire. You can pick a cloud computing security service to back up your data often or mechanically to a safe online place, so that in case the unexpected occurs, you can be back up and running within seconds. Many suppliers offer geo-redundant backup, meaning that your data is stored in a number of centers across multiple places, to increase security.
- Greater reliability
Cloud-based services can sometimes be more reliable than delivered on-premise services, especially if servers or other hardware are ageing. Cloud service providers have a committed, experienced IT staff, meaning that they can likely resolve problems quicker than a small business with only limited IT resources.
- Eased resource management
With servers located off-site and their direction left to an experienced supplier, cloud computing permits you to concentrate on what you do best–running your company. Because resources in the cloud can be obtained as needed, the time it takes to begin with these services shrinks from days to minutes. For small companies wanting to extend their resources and be more competitive, working in the cloud is becoming crucial.
