Cloud Solutions

In the simplest terms, Cloud Computing means storing and accessing data and programs over the Internet instead of your computer’s hard drive. The Cloud is just a metaphor for the Internet. But how the Cloud translates into redundancy, cost-efficient is very complex.

Moving certain components of your IT infrastructure into the cloud can have real benefits to your business. Infrastructure flexibility to scale-up or down on-demand, reliability and disaster recovery, reduction of hardware costs, remote access and increased collaboration within workgroups are some of the benefits.

Cloud-based services are ideal for businesses with growing or fluctuating bandwidth demands. If your needs increase it’s easy to scale up your cloud capacity, drawing on the service’s remote servers. Likewise, if you need to scale down again, the flexibility is baked into the service. This level of agility can give businesses using cloud computing a real advantage over competitors – it’s not surprising that CIOs and IT Directors rank ‘operational agility’ as a top driver for cloud adoption.

Disaster recovery

Businesses of all sizes should be investing in robust disaster recovery, but for smaller businesses that lack the required cash and expertise, this is often more an ideal than the reality. Cloud is now helping more organisations buck that trend. Small businesses are twice as likely as larger companies to have implemented cloud-based backup and recovery solutions that save time, avoid large up-front investment and roll up third-party expertise as part of the deal.

Capital-expenditure Free

Cloud computing cuts out the high cost of hardware. You simply pay as you go and enjoy a subscription-based model that’s kind to your cash flow. Add to that the ease of setup and management and suddenly your scary IT project looks at lot friendlier. It’s never been easier to take the first step to cloud adoption.

Increased collaboration

When your teams can access, edit and share documents anytime, from anywhere, they’re able to do more together, and do it better. Cloud-based workflow and file sharing apps help them make updates in real time and gives them full visibility of their collaborations.

Work from anywhere

With cloud computing, if you’ve got an internet connection you can be at work. And with most serious cloud services offering mobile apps, you’re not restricted by which device you’ve got to hand.

The result? Businesses can offer more flexible working perks to employees so they can enjoy the work-life balance that suits them – without productivity taking a hit. One study reported that 42% of workers would swap a portion of their pay for the ability to telecommute. On average they’d be willing to take a 6% pay cut.

Environmentally friendly (Hey, it’s Seattle!)

While the above points spell out the benefits of cloud computing for your business, moving to the cloud isn’t an entirely selfish act. The environment gets a little love too. When your cloud needs fluctuate, your server capacity scales up and down to fit. So you only use the energy you need and you don’t leave oversized carbon footprints.

Relevant Cloud Solution Resources for your Business

→ G Suite from Google
Get business email, video conferencing, cloud storage, and file sharing. It’s all the tools your team needs to collaborate and get more done, together in one place

→ Office 365 from Microsoft
Working in your office or on the go, you get a familiar, top-of-the-line set of productivity tools and hosted email