In both the long term and short term, cloud storage has enormous implications for business productivity and growth. Businesses of all sizes may realize a cost savings by switching to online data storage via the cloud. If you’re weighing the pros and cons of adopting cloud block storage, consider these business advantages.

Data sharing: Sharing large files used to mean putting everything on a flash drive, CD or other storage medium. With cloud-based storage, sharing is as easy as changing the item permissions to allow it. You have the ability to share with people inside and outside your organization, using the cloud vendor’s secure platform. This offers the short-term potential to decrease headaches regarding collaborative projects and the long-term potential to drive enterprise growth.

Data management: In both day-to-day file storage and management, the cloud streamlines the organization of and access to information. For businesses, this means data can be directly downloaded in the event of data loss, leading to faster and less costly data recovery. Data stored online can also be shared directly between colleagues or through an access control gateway, where employees must provide credentials to view information stored in a shared folder. In the short term, this improves information organization to reduce time spent searching the server. In the long term, storage and management can help meet compliance and security requirements.

Collaboration: The cloud makes collaboration easier, especially when working with team members in other parts of the world. Access control allows organizations to control who can view and edit resources. Although the short term benefits of this are immediate, the collaborative benefits of the cloud may change the types of products businesses can tackle.

Innovation: Cloud-based applications can increase business innovation by decreasing the investment in infrastructure. With more free time and resources, employees can be both creative and productive in research and its application. The immediate benefits can include reduced busywork for employees and cost savings, while the long-term benefits may include business growth and investments in other infrastructure elements.

IT wish list: Many IT departments have a wish list of projects they’d love to tackle, if only they had the time. Because cloud vendors perform maintenance and upgrades, IT staff can spend time on other responsibilities and some of these wish list projects may finally be put into motion, improving other enterprise resources. Additionally, IT costs can diminish since businesses only pay for what they need and don’t pay directly for maintenance, upgrades and servicing. In the short term, costs are reduced and in the long term projects are implemented that can help grow the business.

If these advantages have you intrigued, explore the range of cloud block storage providers. Vendors offer different levels of service and packages to accommodate small, medium and large businesses. Evaluating your needs, determining your budget and researching vendor security, costumer support and applications can help you identify the right cloud provider for your needs. Although the benefits of switching to the cloud are numerous, this is not a decision that should be rushed. Take your time and explore the services offered by several vendors.