Some of the data numbers, vis-à-vis Cloud service are astounding to say the least. Studies by International Data Group suggest that more than half of the business community use cloud computing in one form or the other. Although, this number may appear impressive it still doesn’t reflect the true potential of this technology. Another study by Dell suggests that organisations with big data / cloud connection have seen fantastic revenue growth – 50% more than their niche counterparts.
In spite of boasting state of the art features there are many business entities who have refrained from adopting this platform. And one of the reasons I believe is the delivery mechanism. Cloud computing provides hardware and software infrastructure services via complex network of servers, typically using internet as the distribution vehicle which overwhelms many organisations.
However, the scenario is changing fast. The 25% to 30% year on year growth is the proof that companies are unshackling from their unwanted fears, and ready to imbibe a system which offers hardware, software, document processing and remote services under one roof.
Some of the advantages of cloud commuting include –
Flexibility
As a cloud subscriber you “pay only for what you use”. In simple terms, you can scale your usage depending on your business needs. Some businesses are seasonal in nature and therefore it helps them fine tune their service usage and thereby cut IT costs. Here is another scenario. Is your business growing rapidly? Maybe you are on a hiring spree? No problem. Just increase your bandwidth and you are ready to go.
Cost Savings
As mentioned above, the beauty of cloud technology is the way users are billed. I will reiterate my earlier sentence — pay only for what you use is the mantra here. As a subscriber you can tweak an array of parameters such as: hardware configuration, software, bandwidth, security and backup services etc.
Security & Insights
Unlike in house IT infrastructure wherein the admin or the contractor is responsible for the security of your computing environment, the cloud system is free from these extra but expensive dependencies. Moreover, remote computing offers state of the art security in terms of virus, fire and earthquake and data theft attacks. The security system is automated and boasts an array of critical checkpoints that monitor client environment every second. As a user you can access insights related to security and usage of services.
Mobility & Scalability
I personally believe these twin advantages are enough for any smart organisation to migrate to remote services. Do you own a rented office or administrative space? Yes! Then cloud will reduce your IT woes exponentially. There is no need to carry costly hardware and internet infrastructure equipment every time your lease expires. Simply hookup your laptop from any remote place and reduce productivity dilemmas. Moreover, and as mentioned above, if your new setup demands increased services and bandwidth just tweak the options / parameters in the control panel window of the service provider and you are good to go.
Loss Prevention and Data Recovery
Unlike traditional IT setup where the admin performs backup tasks using manual tools and obsolete methods, cloud does the same using state of the art technologies. This ensures minimum loss of data. Even serious breach of security and external attacks are quickly resolved via multi-layered security protocols and robust firewalls. Loss prevention simply means reduced financial burden and increased profits for your organisation.
Automatic Software Update
Maintaining licenses and keys for various Operating Systems, Software, Anti-Virus Program and a host of productivity applications is a crucial task. Any lapse could result in a major setback. Moreover, software companies frequently release patches to improve their products. Any delay in applying the same may turn your IT setup vulnerable to external threats. However, with Cloud you can rest assured they are updated by the provider and what you get is a completely safe and secure environment.
Collaboration … Unparalleled Flexibility
Document loss, renaming files accidentally and duplication are some of the woes of traditional IT environment, especially when working as a team. Moreover, real time remote alliance is simply not possible until and unless the computer system has been tweaked for this functionality. Cloud infrastructure on the other hand offers this feature as a basic feature and therefore these tasks are a joy to perform.
Summation
Committing to cloud computing solutions can put your organisation on a track of fast growth and that too with reduced IT spending. It is a logical way to achieve impressive bottom-line. Moreover, Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) and Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) offers a host of benefits which increase productivity, reduces redundancy and neutralises processing bottlenecks. So, when are you migrating to Cloud?