The vast majority of businesses are likely to have a percentage of their workload and data running on the cloud and it would seem that the next logical step might be to migrate everything away from your current physical data storage solution.
There are a lot of factors that you need to consider before reaching that decision and that also means weighing up all the pros and cons as well as working out which cloud service model and type is right for your business needs.
You can visit iConnectMontana.com to learn more about solutions for maintaining your critical data and, in addition, here is a look at why companies are moving to the cloud and how the move might benefit your business.
Meeting a growing demand
One of the most obvious advantages of cloud migration is the fact that you will have greater flexibility in being able to respond to increased demand for resources and extra traffic on your system as your business grows.
In order to meet that demand on a physical level, you would have to invest in additional hardware and upgrade your software system to cope with this increased volume of activity and demand for access to more resources.
A major benefit attached to using cloud storage facilities is that it is almost instantly scalable and that means you can respond quickly to increased demand in a cost-effective way.
Keeping costs under control
Every business needs to have tight control over their expenditure in order to protect their bottom line and if you run a direct cost comparison between running a data center on your own premises or subscribing to a cloud-based solution, it is often the case that the cloud option will be less expensive.
Another major cost consideration is that when you move to cloud computing you will only be paying for the services you need and what is relevant to your business requirements.
This means you can create a package where you pay for the right amount of users, the level of storage and memory space needed and other facilities that are put together in a package that ensures you only pay for what you need, ensuring minimal cost wastage.
Flexibility has a value
If you were asked to list some of the prime benefits of cloud computing one of the key attributes you would list is flexibility.
With flexibility comes mobility. Cloud services allow you to work virtually anywhere in the world and access the same information and data services as though you were sitting at a desk in your office.
The obvious advantage of this scenario is that you and your employees can enjoy greater flexibility and could even work from home remotely, reducing the amount of workspace you need to run the business and saving on overheads at the same time.
Easier to plan
It is not always easy to predict which direction your business is going to take and if you suddenly experience unexpected growth this can put pressure on your existing resources and infrastructure.
The good news about cloud computing systems is that scalability is relatively easy and all you have to do is purchase additional servers, storage space, and licenses, and you are good to go.
You could plan for extra growth by investing in extra servers and storage options that are on site, but that traditional on-site computer system approach means you could be tying up valuable capital in hardware that you won’t actually need for some time to come.
A viable backup plan
You always need to have a disaster recovery plan so that you can rescue critical data and backup what you have lost.
If you don’t have your data backed up the information could be lost forever, which could be very serious for your business operation in the short-term at least.
Having your data on the cloud means that the data is always available when you need it and your vital information is protected from being lost.
Even businesses who don’t operate a cloud computing system still tend to use cloud computing for their backup and disaster recovery plan, which is a pointer in itself to the benefits of migrating to the cloud.
Maintaining data security
It only takes one breach of security at your premises to compromise your data and put your business at risk.
It should be the case that storing data on the cloud is safer in comparison to storing it on physical servers or at a data center.
The reason for this is because you can move confidential data to a different account via the cloud, to protect it, and it is also worth bearing in mind that breaching security measures on a cloud platform is often very difficult to do.
Choosing a cloud type
Assuming you have seen the benefits attached to operating a cloud computing system there are a number of choices available regarding the service model that is best suited to your business requirements and the cloud type to go for.
The three most common could service models are -
IaaS - Infrastructure as a Service
PaaS - Platform as a Service
SaaS - Software as a Service
It would be a good idea to consult with your potential provider to get a summary of the features attached to each different service model so that you can pick the one that best fits your needs and preferences.
Also, there are three basic options relating to choosing a cloud type.
You can opt for either public, hybrid, or private cloud type, and again, there are features and options attached to all of these that should be reviewed in order to determine which type is the best fit for your business.
The best approach to migrating to a cloud computing system would most likely involve comparing the various service providers and the services they offer so that you can make an informed decision.
Picking the right option might take a bit of your time but it is a decision that warrants your attention when you consider the potential benefits a cloud solution can offer.
