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Data is the most valuable asset your business has, and how you handle, use and protect it is crucial for your success. You need to maintain data integrity and security, but you also need access to ensure that you extract that value from the data you collect, and part of that is how your data is stored and backed up.
Today, smaller businesses don’t want the expense and hassle of maintaining servers and instead look for external solutions. There are two main options here, a cloud service that provides an array of features for supporting business operations, or a simpler online backup system.
While online backup does have a place, cloud solutions offer so much more, not just for data integrity, but in helping your business function efficiently in the digital space. Here are the key advantages of using a cloud service for your business designed to meet your specific needs.
Why should your small business choose Cloud services?
A shift to cloud-based services impacts more than data storage and access, when done right, it represents a transformation in how your small business carries out its day-to-day activities. You are freed from the confines, and expense, of traditional IT systems, instead having access to essential data and applications from anywhere, delivering significant benefits across all areas of business operations. Including:
- Infrastructure Costs – By eliminating the need for expensive, maintenance-heavy hardware and its built-in obsolescence and the need for valuable oversight and management, you can reduce costs while ensuring you always have the cutting-edge IT provision that keeps you ahead of the competition.
- Improved Security – Cloud service providers invest in enterprise-level security solutions that exceed any measures available to smaller businesses, with full-time professional management and oversight.
- Scalability – When using your own IT hardware, growth means expense. The more people and work you have, the more IT equipment you need, and the more time required to manage and maintain it all. With a Cloud solution, you can add capacity almost instantly with comparatively little extra cost. The converse is true as well, you never need to pay for more than you need and can downsize at will too.
- Flexible working – With secure access to data from anywhere on any device, your team can work from wherever convenient, all they need is internet access.
- Automated Backups and Updates – Never forget a security update or backup again, Cloud systems can do everything for you in an automated schedule. Have confidence in your data integrity and security at all times.
Options for Small Business Cloud Services
If you have ever looked at cloud services for small businesses, it can be a bit daunting to know where to begin. There are so many options, and it is not always clear what exactly they are offering for your monthly fee.
To help you get a better understanding of what choices you have, let’s break down some of the more common cloud service packages on offer.
1. Cloud Storage Services
Probably the most common type of cloud service in use today. Your data is securely stored on hardware in the provider’s commercial data centre and accessed by connecting through the internet. With automated backups by the provider, and access to any file from anywhere you may be with just an internet connection, your business needs no physical storage devices at all to use all that collected data.
Google Drive
If you are familiar with Google Drive, then you know how a cloud storage system works, because that is what it is. Your files are kept in Google Drive, and you simply connect whenever you want access. Google handles backups and security for you. That is how your cloud storage solution works, regardless of the provider chosen.
2. Cloud Mail Services
Services such as Office 365 and Google Workspace give you access to highly secure email communications with built-in spam filtering and other features, all from a cloud-based application. Again, the ability to access emails from any device while maintaining security transforms how and where we work, and offers a more feature-rich, efficient approach to email systems than a more traditional software option.
3. Free Cloud Computing Services
As a small business, one of the biggest challenges you face is managing cash flow. Additional expenditure always seems to come at the wrong time, and while it reduces costs compared to traditional options, cloud services are no different. This is especially true for startups, but there is a solution here too.
Many cloud solutions have free options that can be used to get used to the platform before expanding enough to require the paid tiers. The most commonly used free cloud service options include:
- AWS Free Tier – Offering database, storage and cloud computing services from Amazon, AWS Free Tier gives your business access to powerful tools at no charge.
- Google Cloud Free Tier – Google allows limited free access to most of their cloud solutions.
- Microsoft Azure Free Account – Designed for small companies and startups, gives access to Azure’s comprehensive feature set for free.
4. Data Backup and Recovery
Maintaining data security is not just good for business operations, a failure to do so can have both legal and financial consequences. Costs of data loss whether by accident or malicious attack can prevent operations, leave you vulnerable to fines and regulatory rulings, and damage your reputation beyond repair.
With cloud-based secure backup and recovery solutions, whatever happens, your data is safe and accessible, with fast recoveries minimizing downtime and restoring confidence in your brand.
Choosing the right Cloud Services for your Business
Cloud services should be chosen to meet your needs, not just today, but in the future. Think about the challenges cloud solutions can solve right now, such as avoiding heavy investment in new hardware, improving data security or allowing flexibility for home or on-site working, and look for solutions that support those needs.
With so many providers, this can still leave you with too many options, here’s how you can narrow down the search:
- Security-Down to Encryption – Look for providers that can include full data encryption, multi-factor authentication for accounts to access data, and security standard compliance, such as ISO 27017, ISO 27018 and NIST Framework, to ensure your data is safe at all times.
- Reliability and Performance – You should look for guaranteed uptime provision, 24/7 support access and tools to track performance so you know you are getting the service you are paying for.
- Cost and pricing model – Each provider tends to offer a slightly different set of features for their services, but in general, look at monthly subscription costs and try to see where the value is. It may not be the cheapest, but the one that gives you the most features for your money.
- Integration and Compatibility – You’ve already spent a small fortune on your business software, and your team know how to get the most from it. You don’t want to spend money changing that and training your people for something new, so look for cloud services that can integrate with the systems you have in place now.
- Scalability – How quickly can they add or decrease capacity? How much does that extra capacity cost? Make sure you know that the service has the flexibility you need.
The Future of Cloud Services for Small Businesses (SME)
Cloud services are still relatively new when it comes to business services. As with all technology though, as the capabilities advance and evolve, the service itself will follow. But what does that mean for small businesses?
The most obvious development that we will see soon is more integration of artificial intelligence or AI. AI analysis of data will be integrated into storage services, allowing for rapid, accurate insights into customer data and other aspects of your business. Coupled with intelligent planning tools and more, cloud services will offer powerful support for business management when making critical decisions.
AI can also enhance other aspects of the service, notably security, where learning algorithms will spot vulnerabilities much sooner, and provide automated responses to digital attacks. Together, these advancements alone will allow your business to thrive, with better support for your management team and more peace of mind for the security of your data and operations.
Make Cloud Services Part of Your Business Today!
With the ability to save you money, make it easier for your team to get their work done, and keep your business more secure, Cloud Services are the best option for any small business. As experts in creating tailored cloud solutions for businesses just like yours, get in touch with Image IT today, and start your journey to better IT provision for your team.
