5 Reasons why the cloud is perfect for small businesses

5 Reasons why the cloud is perfect for small businesses

The cloud has been around in one form or another for as long as the Web itself , but the term has become so broadly tossed around that many small-business leaders dismiss it as unclear jargon.

However, local installation of desktop applications is steadily going the way of the dodo as more common tasks are handled off-site in remote data centers.

From a business perspective, cloud computing is all about outsourcing your computing needs to a provider instead of having to face every technology challenge yourself. For leaders of smaller organizations, there are plenty of reasons to invest in cloud services provided by trained experts.

Reason #1: Preparing for growth

Every modern company needs technology to engage with its customers and optimize internal processes. However, if you’re still relying on in-house servers and workstations, opportunities to scale with demand will be severely limited by constraints like physical space, budgets, and the availability of in-house IT staff.

Migrating to the cloud overcomes these limitations by letting you pay solely for the computing power you use, rather than the hardware that makes it possible. With your applications hosted in the cloud, onboarding new employees doesn’t have to cost a thing, since they can simply log in from their own devices.

Reason #2: Empowering a mobile workforce

The mobile workforce now accounts for well over 50% of the overall workforce in the US and is increasing in Canada. With the gig economy in full swing, employers are looking for ways to adapt and move away from traditional office hours and tasks that require being physically in the office.

Mobility is no longer just a benefit that will set you apart either — more and more people are demanding a degree of freedom with regards to how, where, and when they work. By moving your data and applications to the cloud, you can hire better candidates without compromising on security and compliance.

Reason #3: Reducing expenses

Most experts in the business leadership community agree: If you’re not growing, you’re dying. When it comes to IT, that means hardware and software limitations shouldn’t get in the way of expanding your business. Some examples include an aging server that hampers productivity or software that needs to be installed and updated on each computer rather than accessed remotely via the cloud.

Cloud servers and software still need to be supported and maintained, but those tasks are handled by the provider, not the clients who use them. In the case of productivity software like Microsoft’s Office Suite, you can purchase one-time licenses in bulk and install the necessary applications on each office computer or subscribe to the cloud-based Office 365 and simply give employees a login to access the tools from a web browser. When an update is released, the cloud option won’t require any extra maintenance from your team.

Reason #4: Overcoming security challenges

Security and compliance are often seen as barriers to business growth in an age where data protection is everything and cyberthreats evolve faster than most people can keep up with. Companies large and small can’t afford to skimp on cybersecurity.

Cloud technology simplifies data protection by outsourcing the most complicated and time-sensitive tasks to trained experts. In most cases, those experts will even guarantee that your cloud-based data is monitored 24/7 and compliant with regulatory requirements such as America’s Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act or Canada’s Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act.

Reason #5: Achieving technology alignment

Digital transformation is the business topic du jour these days, but the majority of companies struggle to handle it effectively. The most common reason is that they fail to align technology implementations with the specific needs of the company.

The cloud is not a one-size-fits-all solution. It is a flexible and customizable technology that must be molded to fit the needs of its users. A dependable cloud provider should help you achieve technology alignment as you create your solution and on an ongoing basis throughout the duration of the partnership.

At Binatech, we make IT simple so that you can get back to business and stop worrying about the challenges of adopting modern technology. Schedule your free network assessment to get started.