Has your company adopted Cloud computing yet? If not, you may be one of the few still holding off on harnessing private Cloud technology and the benefits of SaaS (Software as a Service) to create a more efficient workplace. By using the Cloud, organizations just like yours have been able to go paperless, backup their files offsite, improve their disaster recovery contingencies, increase collaboration and telecommuting potential, take advantage of big data analytics, and more.
Worries about Cloud Computing
That’s not to say your business is completely alone if you haven’t adopted the Cloud yet. Despite the growing universality of Cloud computing in the business sphere, some organizations are still wary of the technology. In 2013, The Next Web published an article listing “5 Reasons Enterprises Are Frightened of the Cloud.” The piece cited loss of control, security, data protection, performance, and uptime, and fear of being tied to one provider as the top reservations that companies—at the time—were having about the Cloud.
Even as many of those fears have been addressed, certain organizations remain unconvinced about the Cloud. According to a 2015 report from Homeland Security Today, roughly all federal IT departments were still feeling uncomfortable about making the switch to the cloud.
The Top Four Reasons to Adopt the Private Cloud
Despite all past fears and reservations, though, now is the time for companies for finally take a leap of faith and move to the Cloud. Particularly when it comes to file management, the Cloud allows new and exciting solutions that can improve your company’s efficiency, collaboration, agility, and long-term scalability. By adopting document management software such as eFileCabinet, your organization can begin a shift into the Cloud that will be completely positive, without a steep learning curve or other problematic drawbacks.
Here are four reasons to start adopting Cloud computing today:
- Security
Yes, you read that right. One of the core advantages of Cloud computing is also one of the factors that the technology’s detractors have always criticized: security. Many of the concerns about the security of Cloud technology come because organizations don’t know where their data is being stored. Sure, it’s somewhere out there “in the Cloud,” but the Cloud is massive, populated with the data of other businesses and individuals, and permeated on a daily basis by who knows what types of cyber-security threats.
Using a private Cloud for your Cloud computing needs can alleviate these concerns. Essentially, when you have a private Cloud, you know that there are secure physical servers out there that are dedicated to storing your date. There is really no difference in the security of these servers and having a physical server room on your premises to store all of your data. In other words, you get just as much security as you would with on-site servers, but you don’t have to waste space to store those servers or IT department time to maintain them.
- No Hardware Problems
The previous point brings us to the second benefit of moving to the Cloud: there are no hardware problems to worry about. The physical protection and cyber-security of your servers are no longer your responsibility but are instead in the hands of the Cloud computing company that owns and maintains your data servers. You also don’t need to worry about disaster recovery or backup. If your office is damaged or destroyed by a fire, your files won’t be lost because they are stored offsite. At eFileCabinet, we even store your files and folders redundantly across several servers, to ensure that your data is safe even in the rare scenario where something goes wrong with one of our servers.
Finally, operating system upgrades, software updates, or server replacements—in case you run out of storage space—are all worries of the past with Cloud computing. Software and security updates are the responsibility of the third-party Cloud computing firm. Scalability, meanwhile, is easier and more affordable than ever before: if you run out of space, you can simply negotiate with your private Cloud company to rent more space on their servers.
- Cost
Maintaining a server infrastructure on-site is an expensive proposition. Between hardware purchases, software upgrades, and the amount of IT time that will have to be allocated to maintaining the infrastructure, your business will spend a lot of money on a server system. Making the move to Cloud computing and taking advantage of SaaS opportunities will trim your IT budget and eliminate huge hardware investments. You will still spend money—usually in the form of monthly or yearly fees for the private Cloud service—but you will absolutely spend less.
- Mobility and Accessibility
Telecommuting is becoming more common in workplaces around America. A company’s desktop infrastructure—from file storage to corporate email—needs to be able to respond to this newfound increase in mobility. Creating mobile solutions and remote access options is a nightmare for IT professionals working on an on-site server system. However, many Cloud computing firms and services already offer mobile options. The benefit of Cloud computing is that you are already accessing all of your files and services over the internet. As a result, there is no reason that a person working from home or on a business trip can’t have the same access to the infrastructure that they would enjoy in the office. This ability to access files and systems from anywhere (and from any device) can help businesses become more agile and efficient.
Bottom line, there is no reason to fear the private Cloud, but there are plenty of reasons to embrace it. With Cloud technology on your side, your organization can become faster, smarter, and more efficient. The world is still in the midst of a technological revolution, and the solutions and advantages that Cloud computing has to offer are going to be important in helping organizations stay relevant and competitive for the next stage.