Whilst many organisations are already taking advantage of a cloud-based way of working, migrating over can seem daunting for those yet to take the first steps. If you’re unsure about the best way forward for your organisation, we’ve shared the top five reasons why you should consider moving to the cloud.
Migrating to the cloud essentially means moving and storing your data and software – either wholly or partially – onto the internet. Doing so allows users on a network to access what they need at any time, from any location.
There are three main cloud models for organisations to choose from, depending on the needs of your business: public, private and hybrid. There are lots of factors to be taken into account when considering cloud migration, so we’ve talked through the options and key benefits below.
Data security & compliance
Cyber threats against businesses are increasing in number and severity every day. Whilst some might have concerns about how safe their data is online, migrating to the cloud can actually help mitigate the risks against your organisation and should be a factor in your cyber security strategy.
Software updates and security patches are often rolled out automatically and handled by the vendor, so you don’t have to worry about spending time manually updating them yourself.
As well as this, data compliance is quickly becoming an essential component of most business strategies – particularly for those operating in the financial, legal and healthcare sectors. Moving to the cloud and using cloud-based tools, which are mostly designed in line with security best practices, quickly ticks the box for many compliance regulations.
Scalability & flexibility
Migrating to the Cloud is an ideal solution for those in need of scalable and flexible data storage. Whether your organisation is growing through success, or you experience peaks and troughs during seasonal sales, the cloud allows you to easily increase or decrease your capacity to meet business demand.
Increased efficiencies & productivity
Cloud-based working is quickly revolutionising the way we operate as employers. With your network and data stored in the cloud, your team will be able to access their work wherever they are, on any device, at any time. They’ll be able to collaborate on documents together, sharing real time edits and comments.
Whether it be at home, on the road, or in the office, employees can enjoy that all important work-life balance, boosting efficiencies and productivity.
Reduced costs
Running your own data centre and maintaining server hardware is an expense that few organisations can afford. By migrating to the cloud, you’ll simply cut these costs out. Plus, initial setup and ongoing management fees are low and, in most cases, you’ll enjoy a pay as you go subscription-based model.
Protected from downtime
In today’s world, all businesses need to have a comprehensive and robust business continuity plan in place to protect against downtime.
Cloud-based back-up plans are designed to ensure your data is automatically backed up at regular intervals, reducing your risk of data loss and saving you both time and money. If the worst does happen and you suffer downtime, your data can quickly be retrieved from the cloud to get you back up and running as soon as possible.
Take your first steps to the Cloud
All businesses looking to succeed in today’s world need to consider moving over to a cloud-based way of working. In fact, the question is no longer “if” but “when”.
If you would like to find out more about cloud migration and how we can help, contact us today to speak to a specialist.
