Featured article by Philip Piletic, aspiring writer and blogger
The cloud isn’t just a buzzword for the boardroom – it’s the metaphor used to describe the vast array of connected services that are changing the way businesses work. It’s a metaphor that’s driving a revolution, and if you haven’t included cloud-based services in your business model yet, you’ve already got some catching up to do.
Connections to the cloud are benefitting companies that range from the corner café to the largest multinational corporation, and they’re doing it in so many ways that those who have adapted to a cloud-centric strategy are gaining an edge in virtually every aspect of their day-to-day operations. Whether it’s productivity or profitability, the cloud will measurably improve your metrics.
Efficiency
Enhanced efficiency is an obvious benefit of switching to cloud-based services. The various methods of real-time cloud-based communication, not least of which include instant messaging, virtual collaboration workspaces and Voice over IP – VoIP services,streamline communication in ways that make even email seem obsolete.
VoIP service, by the way, can even significantly reduce a company’s telecommunications costs. Integrating communications into your data network is efficient and cost-effective, but we’ll talk more about this later.
By utilizing the streamlined methods of communication offered by the cloud, employees can easily work remotely. With all of the necessary information stored in a single, secure, location, it is instantly accessible and easily retrievable from any location with access to the Internet.
Security
Data security is always on the agenda of any company that deals with customers’ personal information. Whether it be addresses, credit card numbers or medical information, customers – and even other businesses – extend a level of trust to virtually every business with which they work. This, of course, is not a task that should be taken lightly.
The cloud can do data security very, very well. Rather than store information on local – and potentially vulnerable – servers and storage devices, a high-quality cloud service will move your data to a hardened data center. Automated, real-time backups are standard fare in such an operation to protect against data loss due to unforeseen damage or loss, it extends to protection against malicious attacks designed to steal sensitive information.
Even smaller services like this Aussie cloud-based dental software, for example, can offer top notch protection by utilizing advanced encryption technology similar to that employed by banks and credit card companies. In addition, their servers are located in one of those hardened data centers mentioned above. They’re protected day and night by professional security guards. This service not only takes the financial burden off the companies that they serve, but also ensures a level of protection that would be difficult to achieve on single company’s limited budget. Their clients are then able to offer these savings – and this high level of protection – on to their customers.
Convenience
With specialized services and specialized employees, cloud services also enhance the efficiency – and reduce the costs – of a company’s technical needs. Prior to the rise of the cloud, companies were forced to purchase licenses for the software required to run the day-to-day operations of their business.
First and foremost, this out-of-the-box software required constant maintenance. As new bugs were discovered, patches were released to address the problems. Companies using the software were obligated to keep up with the latest patches to ensure reliable usability and security in their applications.
Worse, new features would not typically become available until a new version of the software was released. In order to take advantage of these features, the business would have to pay more licensing fees for the new versions. That, or choose a different software provider and pay to train their workforce in its use.
While the past tense was used above, there are businesses that still rely upon this outdated model. Software-as-a-Service – SaaS – is the new standard in business application management. With automated updates and dynamic pricing models that typically require companies to pay only for those services they need, the aforementioned methods of software service management are quickly being abandoned.
The Future of the Cloud
The cloud exists in various forms. Some companies base their operations entirely upon the availability – and competition between – public cloud-based businesses offering similar services. Other, larger businesses are adapting the innovation of the cloud to their own private infrastructure, creating custom applications that are distributed and managed by in-house teams.
Still others are adopting a hybrid approach. These utilize a combination of on-premises private cloud environments along with publicly available services. The ability to do so demonstrates the true capability of cloud-based services – they can be as specialized as is required for any given task, but they’re able to expand according to the needs of those utilizing their services.
The future of the cloud is limitless, but one thing is certain – now is the time. Expenditures on cloud-based services are expected to surpass $106 Billion in 2016, and this means that everyone is getting on board. With the competition between cloud services hotter than ever before, it’s hard to imagine a better time to put the cloud to work for you.
Philip Piletic is an aspiring writer and blogger with a love for business, finance and technology. His goal is to give useful advice and help people adapt to ever evolving world of today.
