cloud computing for SME and startups

Why Your Business Can’t Ignore the Cloud

If you’re new to the cloud, it’s very likely that you’re already using a cloud service without even realising. Whether you’re backing up data on the internet, free web-based email services, or storing photos & music online. These are all being done in the cloud.

The true definition of cloud computing is an on-demand delivery of IT resources over the internet. Instead of buying, owning, and maintaining physical data centers and servers, you can access technology services via the internet. 

The 3 main types of cloud computing are:

  • Software as a Service (SaaS) – provides you with a complete product that is run and managed by the service provider
  • Platform as a Service (PaaS) – removes the need for you to manage infrastructure and allows you to focus on the deployment & management of your applications
  • Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) – typically provides access to networking features, computers and data storage space

As you can imagine, cloud computing comes with many benefits, hence why it’s so popular amongst businesses and startups in today’s digital world. 

Save Money

By opting for a cloud service, you can save a considerable amount in a lot of areas of your business. Although there are some cloud services that require a monthly subscription, there are some available that are free and offer a generous amount of storage (more storage available at a small cost). The two most popular being Google Drive and Dropbox. 

Firstly, you can save on staff costs. No one has to manage a team of in-house specialists to install and update the software, manage emails and file servers, or run backups. That’s the beauty of cloud computing. These updates are done automatically, which will save you time in doing them manually. 

Save Space

You can also save on hardware space as you no longer have to run software updates for your own network. With cloud computing, you can host business data in the cloud and save your hardware space for more sensitive data. 

File storage and data backups can take a lot of memory space if saved on hardware, whereas the cloud will be able to store all of this for you instead. An extra bonus is that your computers will run a lot quicker when you do this.

Reliability

It’s at the top of most people’s lists, especially when data and important documents are involved. Data backup, disaster recovery and business continuity are easier and less expensive because data can be mirrored at multiple redundant sites via the cloud. It can act as a safety net, just in case something disastrous does happen to your files. 

Go Global in Minutes

With just a few clicks, you can deploy your application and expand globally in minutes. Putting applications in closer proximity to end users reduces latency and improves their experience. Afterall, a seamless and easy UX makes for a happy end-user, which is what we want to see at Contapp and other businesses in the tech space.

Flexibility with Scalability

Go at your own pace with the flexibility of a cloud service when you look to grow your business. Scale up or down your storage needs and operations to suit your situation. Instead of purchasing and installing expensive upgrades off your own back, your cloud service provider can take this burden from you, so that you can concentrate on running your business.

Collaborate with Anyone, Anywhere, Anytime

One of the biggest selling points of cloud computing is the ability to seamlessly collaborate with anyone, anywhere, at any time. Having your business in this cloud environment allows the people in your business to communicate and share files easily, outside the normal methods. If you’re working on projects across different locations and teams, you can give selected people the permission to access certain files.


Final Thought

Cloud computing is the way the digital world is in this current climate, especially when it comes to business. It allows you to set up and work from a ‘virtual office’ to give you the flexibility of connecting your business anywhere, any time. 

There’s a growing number of devices and apps (such as Contapp) which are cloud enabled as we become more connected in business, so having access to files and data has never been easier. 

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