BENEFITS OF CLOUD COMPUTING

Cloud computing offers your business many benefits. It allows you to set up what is essentially a virtual office to give you the flexibility of connecting to your business anywhere, any time. With the growing number of web-enabled devices used in today's business environment, access to your data is even easier. There are many benefits to moving your business to the cloud:

Cloud Computing was built for growth. 
Let’s say you need 10 times the number of computer systems you currently have, what do you do? Cloud computing is one of the best ways to accommodate such growth. By simply providing the required systems over a virtual network, instead of a physical platform, companies can provide the software and tools to an unlimited number of employees, as they need them.

Need more features? 
Just add them on! Another reason cloud computing has gained momentum is because it is minimalizing additional costs by making computers, including servers and desktop machines, become simple features. The only thing a company needs to do to add on new features is login and add them. It’s as simple as that!

Cloud Computing facilitates new ideas.
Due to the immense flexibility and customization that the cloud offers, new ideas and systems can be born. This is especially beneficial when a company has a unique system or company structure to support. Along these same lines, the cloud offers automatic software integration which will make customization even easier.

Want more control over your company’s systems? 
The cloud can offer this, too. With all of your employees data on file and easily accessible, key players can access files and other important data from one central location. This ability has many benefits, including security when an employee goes a-wall.

Why buy when you can rent? 
One of the greatest benefits of cloud computing technology is that companies don’t need to pay for expensive hardware and software. Instead, they can pay only for what they need and will use. This pay as you use platform has attracted many organizations to adopt cloud computing technology.

Want enough storage to last you a life time?
The cloud can deliver! If there is one thing you can get with the cloud it’s a lot of storage. And again, you only pay for what you use. When you’re talking about large scale use, wasted storage space can be a huge expense and the cloud can offer a better way of near endless storage.

Backup and recovery 
While you can store your data on physical machines, the cloud offers another secure method for backup. Additionally, most cloud service providers can also provide you with adequate data recovery to make the entire process much simpler.

BENEFITS OF CLOUD COMPUTING

Reduced IT costs
Moving to cloud computing may reduce the cost of managing and maintaining your IT systems. Rather than purchasing expensive systems and equipment for your business, you can reduce your costs by using the resources of your cloud computing service provider. You may be able to reduce your operating costs because:

• the cost of system upgrades, new hardware and software may be included in your contract
• you no longer need to pay wages for expert staff
• your energy consumption costs may be reduced
• there are fewer time delays.

Scalability
Your business can scale up or scale down your operation and storage needs quickly to suit your situation, allowing flexibility as your needs change. Rather than purchasing and installing expensive upgrades yourself, your cloud computer service provider can handle this for you. Using the cloud frees up your time so you can get on with running your business.

Business continuity
Protecting your data and systems is an important part of business continuity planning. Whether you experience a natural disaster, power failure or other crisis, having your data stored in the cloud ensures it is backed up and protected in a secure and safe location. Being able to access your data again quickly allows you to conduct business as usual, minimising any downtime and loss of productivity.

Collaboration efficiency
Collaboration in a cloud environment gives your business the ability to communicate and share more easily outside of the traditional methods. If you are working on a project across different locations, you could use cloud computing to give employees, contractors and third parties access to the same files. You could also choose a cloud computing model that makes it easy for you to share your records with your advisers (e.g. a quick and secure way to share accounting records with your accountant or financial adviser).

Flexibility of work practices
Cloud computing allows employees to be more flexible in their work practices. For example, you have the ability to access data from home, on holiday, or via the commute to and from work (providing you have an internet connection). If you need access to your data while you are off-site, you can connect to your virtual office, quickly and easily.

Access to automatic updates
Access to automatic updates for your IT requirements may be included in your service fee. Depending on your cloud computing service provider, your system will regularly be updated with the latest technology. This could include up-to-date versions of software, as well as upgrades to servers and computer processing power.