Cloud computing is a popular type of technology, and it’s been about two decades since the term was first introduced. Nonetheless, are you aware of how it can assist in building your business?
Data shows that using a cloud platform can make your business stand out from your competitors. It’s also cost-effective and improves your business efficiency. Cloud computing allows your business to use software through the web as a service. Moreover, it’s a secure method of sharing and storing data.
Today, businesses of different sizes, locations, and sectors use cloud platforms. A 2019 study of Asia-Pacific’s largest companies shows that over 90% of them use or intend to use a multi-cloud model. Given this, you may be wondering if you should likewise integrate a cloud platform. To help you decide, read on to learn more about what such technology can do for your business.
Cloud Platforms Offer Security
Data security has been a significant issue in the past few years, with stricter laws in place to ensure more robust protection. This issue has also been tied to the cloud, a tool for storing data. After all, what’s preventing hackers from trying the same if you can access your data from any location?
The fact is that putting your data in the cloud is not entirely risk-free. However, cloud hosts do their best to make your data secure in the cloud, preventing any chances of hackers trying to exploit the system. For instance, they can cause data to be more secure in the cloud through end-to-end or zero-knowledge encryption. This is a practice typical among cloud storage companies. Data placed within the cloud is often encrypted, and a person who wishes to retrieve the data must first have an encryption key.
There are other reasons why clouds are secure such as:
- Built-in firewalls
- Redundancy or multiple backups of data
- Regular security updates
- Third-party security tests for servers and software
- Auto-patching and artificial intelligence (AI) tools
However, it’s a common misconception that only the cloud provider is responsible for security within the cloud. For example, a company using Google Cloud Platform (GCP) should be accountable for security in terms of content, access policies, and usage. Operating within the Google cloud shared responsibility model is ideal as it helps prevent data breaches due to misconfigurations and excessive permissions.
They Offer Flexibility
If your company’s present information technology (IT) infrastructure leaves you constantly grappling with data storage and computer challenges, you’ll be unable to focus on attaining your business objectives and meeting clients’ needs. In today’s digital era, becoming more flexible is vital as it frees up more time for core business activities. Using a cloud platform can give you more flexibility.
For one, you can have fewer workstations in your office as it enables your employees to work remotely. This becomes possible because a cloud platform allows them to access their files using web-enabled devices from any location. This advantage can make for a more agile business.
Second, it offers more bandwidth. You can complete the task of uploading or downloading data more quickly through the cloud instead of going through a complicated and costly update to your IT system. This gives you more flexibility and freedom, which can significantly improve the efficiency of your business operations.
They Save You Money
A cloud platform can help you lower your operational costs. When you try to scale up through on-site IT infrastructure, it can be an expensive undertaking. You may have to pay more for network equipment, hardware, software licenses, and in-house IT experts.
When you use a cloud platform, you only pay for what you use. Cloud providers will support the IT infrastructure by providing new hardware and software and spending money on upgrades. Given this, you can make the most of your budget and get only the services you need to keep your business competitive or scale it further.
In sum, the cost-effective benefits of using a cloud platform make this technology worth considering.
Conclusion
Regardless of industry, many companies take advantage of cloud platforms to grow their business. Depending on your business needs, you may opt for a public, private, or hybrid type of cloud platform. Some large companies, however, find that the multi-cloud or hybrid model is ideal as it helps optimize their infrastructure and security.
This kind of technology can help your business in more ways than one. First, it provides more security with the use of encryption and backing up data multiple times. Second, it can make your business more flexible by enabling remote work and providing more bandwidth. Third, it offers a less expensive way of supporting your IT infrastructure. Overall, you may consider using a cloud platform to reap these benefits for your business.
