With the workplace efficiencies that cloud storage provides, small to midsized businesses (SMBs) can gain some great benefits from this technology. Having moved beyond its primarily roles of backup and storage, the cloud is now delivering software and services over the Internet. Today businesses can take advantage of the cloud’s ability to provide quicker access to information, which means faster applications and a better user experience.
Aside from speed, cloud storage also offers businesses a self-controlled, on-demand provisioning of services and pay-as-you-go price structures. To further entice businesses, cloud storage doesn’t require intense IT personnel resources, since the technologies are online and shared. With IT management simplified more than ever before, a business can focus on its services and product development, leading to a stronger competitive edge.
The Industry Unites to Increase Cloud Options
Businesses are being offered an array of options in the available cloud backup services. Legacy vendors—and historical rivals—such as Oracle and Microsoft are working together to develop corporate cloud storage, along with cloud pioneers such as Salesforce.com and NetSuite. Oracle has ensured its software will run on Azure, Microsoft’s cloud platform, and Microsoft will promote Oracle’s database software to its Azure customers.
Due to these strong options, businesses not only have the ability to select from various public and private cloud service providers, but they can cherry-pick the applications they assign to specific clouds. For instance, they can place sensitive applications on private clouds that are reinforced by configurations that reduce, if not eliminate, security considerations.
One such cloud strategy is infrastructure as a service (IaaS). This service works as a virtual machine and has the ability to scale services up or down according to the business’s requirements. IaaS cloud providers Amazon, HP Cloud and Rackspace supply enterprise customers these resources on-demand from their large pools installed in data centers.
The Cost benefits of Cloud Storage
Despite its advantages, one of the hurdles cloud computing faces is that many business owner are clinging to their legacy systems. They’re hesitant to move into cloud storage because they want to obtain greater benefits from their initial IT investments. Traditional data storage systems, however, require ongoing updates, resources and personnel. The ongoing costs associated with these issues are causing businesses to take a closer look at cloud computing and what it can provide.
Dependability Despite Downtime
Not only can businesses save on infrastructure and personnel, the cloud provides them with an added layer of resiliency in the event of power outages. As opposed to a physical computer failing, a virtual machine can be set to automatically restart within minutes on another computer. This offers businesses a stronger level of business agility, one of the most critical factors in businesses remaining competitive.
Putting Doubts Aside
Whatever doubts small to midsized businesses may have, the economic benefits of cloud computing are playing a convincing role. With its on-demand provisioning of services, pay-as-you-go pricing, and management capabilities, cloud computing can provide the agility many businesses require. On short notice, businesses can improve their analytics and quickly adopt new applications to remain competitive.