If your company does not use cloud computing as part of daily operations, there is a good chance to break the model in coming years. According to the experts, the global Internet traffic generated by the use of cloud computing services will increase 12 times by 2015. It’s evident that demand is growing. For those who are looking for business expansion and do not know if the cloud is in line with the company’s strategic objectives, here are five tips that will help to decide the right time to jump to the cloud.
1. Lower cost of ownership: Migrating critical data and applications to the cloud may be significantly more profitable than keeping the hardware on the premises. However your data is stored in the infrastructure of the service provider, there is no need to invest in the purchase of equipment, maintenance or upgrade the server. Moreover, as the data and software are the responsibility of a provider, the contracting company can reduce the number of IT staff or contractors required to keep the hardware running on premise, directing them to more strategic activities that add value to the business.
2. Business Continuity: When migrating data from the company to a company that specializes in providing solutions for cloud computing, the organization is not only investing in a solution for off-site storage, but also buying a little peace of mind. This is because providers of cloud solutions like Amazon, IBM, Cisco, Microsoft and ESDS have trained staff that is ready to respond to emergencies, frustrations and failures 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, ensuring that the company and employees have access to files and business applications. In addition, they give the necessary assistance when requested. By default, cloud computing offers an instant backup solution out of the place where it is running. In cases of disasters in the office, for example, business continuity is assured, thanks to the fact that information is replicated to another location.
3. IT demands that companies have a cloud computing solution that can grow quickly to meet the demands of employees and customers. As businesses grow, the cloud-based solution can be quickly scaled to meet the growing needs. This movement may be especially important for companies that rely on web sales representative and significant revenue. The lack of server capacity can quickly result in lost sales.
4. Data is running from the cloud, the company and employees can access relevant information anywhere and anytime, just access the internet. This reflects the increase in productivity. Employees can work from their desks or cars. You can access, work, and update mission critical data, such as a PowerPoint presentation from the office before the sales staff to use it across the country.
5. Intense competition: Everyone knows that a new car loses value as soon as it is taken from the dealership. The same can be said for cloud computing solutions. Once the organization invest in hardware or software, readily a faster or more efficient technology will be announced. Thanks to cloud computing, this cruel reality becomes the past. The cloud model is a business and so the competition is fierce. As new technologies emerge faster, the contractor can be assured that the provider will take the opportunity to provide the latest market updates, for fear of losing business to another company. This means that the software that the company uses, will speed access to data much faster.