Cloud computing is a whole new computing technology and philosophy that has changed the way small businesses are conducted online. What was once seen as a dream has been integrated into mainstream IT resource. A research conducted by Portio Research in 2010 found that 56% small business segments are still unfamiliar with concept. If you are one of them, here are some tips as to why you should consider cloud computing for your small business.
1. Better Business Productivity
With cloud computing at your disposal, you can run your business ‘on the go.’ Your business employees can access emails and documents from anywhere on the planet. It gives you and your staff flexibility to set up working station anywhere. Moreover, you can employ people globally without letting it affect business productivity. In fact, with several great minds working on a small business project from the remotest corner of the world, you get to enhance small business operation.
2. Improved Security
As compared to traditional IT resources, cloud computing is more secure for data storage and management. Cloud service providers employ leading security experts and invest considerable amount of money to develop security technology to protect small business establishments. When you use cloud computing, you reduce dependence on storing confidential data on laptops or USB devices because every piece of information is saved on the private cloud and/or public cloud, or in a hybrid cloud.
3. Better Cultural Adjustment and Collaboration
Cloud computing is user-centered technology which has made business and professional working environment easily accessible. These days’ small businesses hire employees from different countries and seeing the current pattern of working, a large section of employees recruited by small businesses work from home. The only connecting tool between employer and employee are cloud applications like Google Apps or Skype. Even with the geographical barrier, there is a more collaborative way of working which has undoubtedly improved knowledge sharing, creativity and communication channels.
4. 24 Hours Business Information Availability
In contrast to traditional IT models, cloud computing improves business resiliency by making information available 24-7. The cloud service providers offer 24 hours support and 99.9% uptime guarantee. Rate of redundancy is reduced and data centers ensure that your business information is available all the time. In other words, there is less downtime and even if some problem arise; it is sorted out in a matter of minutes. According to estimates by IDC, small businesses with cloud computing enjoy 97% greater reliability. Moreover, if you are dissatisfied with cloud service providers, you have the flexibility to change service providers any time you want.
5. Increased Cost Savings
In earlier days, starting a business on a small scale involved setting aside at least $5000 plus for IT infrastructure. Return to 2011, and your cost savings will be higher than you can anticipate. It helps business to save on IT software and hardware expenditure by almost 54%; the saved amount can be put to use for other business infrastructure development.
Cloud computing is an essential aspect of small business establishment in terms of cost and efficiency. Almost every business today runs on the cloud model because it has made information sharing possible on a wider level.
Source: BusinessPundit.com is an online collection of blogs and articles featuring business and technology insight from authors around the globe
Here are a number of very good cloud and software solutions for your business:
- Google Apps for Business
- Dropbox File Sharing
- Skype Manager
- Picnik Photo Editor
- Live Writer HTML Editor
- Xero Accounting
- Capsule CRM
- Mavenlink Projects
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