13 Things About Cloud Services You May Not Have Known
Are you familiar with cloud computing? If you're not, chances are that technology is already an important part of your life. The cloud is behind services like Dropbox, iCloud, and Google Photos—all of which we rely on every day. What you might not know is how much more there is to the cloud than what it lets us do with our personal files. You can also use the cloud to improve your business' efficiency and security, boost collaboration between employees, and a whole lot more.
We've compiled this list to help you find out all about the many benefits of using cloud services for your business and why it's time to make the switch:
1. You can save quite a lot of money with the cloud
There are a lot of reasons why cloud computing is an affordable solution, but here are some of the most important ones:
- You can save money on hardware and software costs. Cloud computing lets you pay for what you need, when you need it. You don't have to worry about buying expensive hardware and software just in case—you only pay for what you use. That's great news if your business isn't as busy during slow periods!
- You can save money on energy costs. Cloud computing uses less energy than traditional data centers because it uses thousands of remote servers rather than one big one in your office or building. This makes cloud services more environmentally friendly than their traditional counterparts!
- You can save money on maintenance costs. When something breaks down with a cloud service, someone else will fix it—and they'll fix it faster than anyone else could manage thanks to their expertise with large-scale systems like these! Plus they won't charge extra just because they had to make an emergency call at 2 AM either...
2. Prioritizing security should be a key part of your migration strategy
Cloud services are indeed more secure than on-premises options, but you still need to do your part as well. Although most cloud providers have hefty security measures in place, they can't guarantee your data is safe if you don't take the proper precautions when migrating it over.
It's important to have a strategy for migrating your data into the cloud and then migrating applications once they're there. The best way to do this is with an MSP (managed service provider) who has experience working with both companies and individuals who want to move over their data.
3. You can use the cloud to boost productivity in your business
There's a lot to learn about cloud computing and its role in business, whether you're looking for ways to improve productivity or boost your company's security. In addition to the basics of how it works, several other things may not be on everyone's radar but can be useful for any business owner who wants to get ahead in today’s competitive market.
4. There are many different types of cloud services to choose from
When you talk about cloud services, what you're really talking about is the type of service that's being provided. There are three different types of cloud services: IaaS (Infrastructure-as-a-Service), PaaS (Platform-as-a-Service), and SaaS (Software-as-a-Service).
Infrastructure as a Service refers to on-demand access to computing platforms, storage, and networking capabilities. This allows customers to allocate processing power on demand instead of buying their own hardware or leasing it from vendors as Amazon Web Services does.
Platform as a Service means that software developers use an existing platform to build and host their applications in the cloud rather than building one themselves.
For example, if a company wants its employees' mobile apps but doesn't have time or resources for developing those apps itself then using Platform as a Service might be ideal because it allows them to focus on other things while leaving app development up to someone else who specializes in creating such things!
5. Migrating to the cloud is not as challenging as you might think
Migrating to the cloud is not as challenging as you may think. It can be done gradually—you don't have to move everything all at once. And if your company has a lot of data and applications, you don't have to move them all at once either.
You can also get help from a cloud provider or an experienced third party that specializes in cloud migration services.
The best part: You can move your data and applications in any order you like!
6. Cloud computing can boost collaboration in your company
Businesses are more successful when they have an effective collaboration strategy. Cloud computing can improve your ability to share information with your team members and customers. This will help you make better decisions, make fewer mistakes, and increase productivity.
You can use cloud services to:
- Share files and folders with other people within your company or organization.
- Collaborate on documents, spreadsheets, or presentations online in real time.
7. You have control over resource usage when you work with cloud services
You have control over resource usage when you work with cloud services. In a lot of instances, you're in charge of how much data storage and processing power you need.
There are a few ways this can happen:
- You can choose the number of resources you use. For example, if your business needs more server space during a busy season but not all year long, it's easy to scale up during those peak seasons without having to invest in expensive infrastructure or software licenses. And if your business doesn't need as much server space at some other time during the year, it's easy to scale back down again until the next busy season comes around - all without having invested heavily in hardware or software licenses beforehand!
- You can save money by using only what you need (and nothing more). When it comes to buying servers and storing data centers for them (not to mention paying for staff), the costs add up very quickly. Cloud computing eliminates many of these costs by allowing companies like yours access only when they need them rather than purchasing permanent licenses upfront; this is especially helpful if there's no guarantee that an application will always be used as frequently as its initial deployment requires!
8. You can reduce costs and increase efficiency at the same time with a scalable cloud solution
You can reduce costs and increase efficiency at the same time with a scalable cloud solution.
Cloud services allow you to scale your infrastructure up or down as needed, so you don't have to worry about over-buying or under-buying hardware. This means that you'll only pay for what you use, which is great for saving money on IT expenses.
Additionally, since cloud solutions are designed for high availability and rapid provisioning, they provide faster access to IT resources—saving time that would otherwise be spent waiting around for equipment or software to be installed before starting work on an important project.
9. You don't have to migrate all of your data and applications to the cloud right away if you don't want to
It's true that the cloud is a big change, and not everyone is ready to migrate all of their data and applications right away. If you'd like to start with just one application or one data set, you can do that. You might also decide to start with a small amount of data in order to learn more about how the cloud works before committing more resources.
10. Cloud providers make regular updates to keep up with developing trends
Cloud providers are always making updates to ensure that they're providing the best solutions. They know that in order to stay relevant, they need to keep up with developing trends and make sure their services are at the cutting edge of technology.
If you've been thinking about using cloud services but haven't done so yet, there's no better time than now! Cloud providers are constantly updating and improving their products in order to ensure that they remain relevant and useful for both businesses and individuals alike.
11. There's a plan to suit every business need and budget
When you're looking to save time and money, a cloud services provider will help you find the right plan.
Cloud providers offer a variety of plans that can help your business grow, stay productive, and save money. The right plan for your business depends on your needs—but when you're working with one, they'll be able to match their offerings with yours in order to meet those needs.
Need to control your Cloud costs? Check out our tailored Cloud Essentials for Startups package.
12. We're still finding new uses for the technology every day, so there are lots more benefits that we don't even know yet!
You may not know it, but the Cloud is still in its infancy. We're still finding new uses for the technology every day, so there are lots more benefits that we don't even know yet! The Cloud is an ever-evolving universe of possibilities. Each year brings new applications, new uses for the cloud, and new ways to use it.
If you've been using cloud services for years but have yet to experience one of these benefits, you should take heart: there's more waiting out there for us all!
13. Yes, you really should migrate your business to the cloud if you haven't already!
The cloud is a great way to save money, boost productivity, improve collaboration, reduce costs and increase efficiency.
If you're thinking about migrating your business to the cloud but aren't sure if it's right for your organization or what steps you need to take first then read on.
It's time to get started if you've been thinking about migrating your business to the cloud but haven't done it yet
The cloud is a great way to save money and increase productivity. If you've been thinking about migrating your business to the cloud but haven't done so yet, here are a few reasons why you should:
- Save money by eliminating hardware expenses. Your IT department will no longer have to buy new computers for every employee or server for every department—they'll just pay a monthly subscription fee instead. This means that instead of paying thousands of dollars upfront for equipment and software licenses, you can now pay much less up front while still saving thousands in the long run by not having to buy new laptops or servers every year.
- Increase collaboration between teams by using shared resources like calendars and documents stored on an online platform such as Google Drive or Microsoft OneDrive (formerly known as SkyDrive). Employees can share files with one another without having to email them back-and-forth endlessly; they can also access all their company's documents from any device that has Internet access—whether it's at home or out at coffee with clients during lunchtime!
The cloud is a game changer for businesses, and we're excited to see what possibilities lie ahead. Whether you're looking at the big picture or just starting with one application, there's something for every company size and budget in this list of cloud services. I
If you have any questions about which service would be best for your business, contact us today!
We have experts on hand who can help guide you through this journey from start to finish so that it's as easy as possible.