Cloud technology has become very popular among many small business owners in the past few years, and those who haven’t yet embraced it are potentially missing out on a wealth of benefits. From reducing costs to increasing efficiency.
Small to medium sized businesses generally have limited and/or restricted budgets, and need to stretch every dollar as far as possible. This means if you are a small business owner who is still unsure about cloud technology, you will need to carefully evaluate it before making a decision, looking at the benefits and addressing any concerns.
The truth is, cloud computing does bring with it a lot of great benefits for small businesses. In fact, when it is implemented properly, cloud technology could just be one of the best decisions you make for your business.
Why? Well first of all, there is no actual technology for you or your team to worry about. Cloud computing involves zero installation, maintenance, or update downloads. Once you sign up for cloud based software, you’re ready to use it straight away with the peace of mind that all that tedious technical stuff is taken care of by your service provider.
Another reason that cloud technology is a good choice for small business, and probably the most important, is that it is very economical. There are no upfront costs, and the monthly payments that you make are low and predictable, meaning no nasty surprises. Fees are usually paid per user, so you can scale your payments up or down depending on the needs of your business.
Because this software puts your business ‘in the cloud’, suddenly your team becomes much more connected and mobile. Access to a cloud workspace can be shared, allowing colleagues to collaborate on projects. Users can access the cloud workspace from anywhere that has an internet connection, whether that be the office, their home office, or on the run.
So it is pretty clear that cloud technology can do wonders for your small business, but what about security? The question of security is a very common concern. Essentially, you are putting critical business information into the hands of a third party. It all comes down to the provider you choose. Going with a reputable, well established provider such as Microsoft’s Office 365, generally means that there will be documents and policies in place to outline their promise to protect your privacy and maintain optimum security.
Good providers will also provide you with a Service Level Agreement (SLA), giving you assurance that the service will be available with minimal downtime.
The fact is, cloud computing is drastically changing the small business landscape, cutting costs and improving efficiency, and providing adopters with a competitive advantage over those who have not yet embraced it.
