In the modern world, the internet has become an integral part of how we do business. Whether you run a blogging website, a retail store, or another business such as marketing or consultancy, you probably use the internet every day. As our reliance on the internet has grown, alongside the amount of data we need to store and send, the importance of the Cloud has become even more evidence. But what is the Cloud, and how can you make the best use of it in your business?
What Is It?
Simply, the Cloud refers to a centralized area of the internet where huge amounts of data can be stored and accessed from anywhere in the world, on any connected device. The benefits of this are enormous, allowing you to communicate globally, work remotely, and save on hardware costs. This has helped to democratize business as it makes it much easier for anyone to store and communicate data – however, drawbacks include risks to security that must be addressed for any business using the Cloud.
Storage and Backups
The most common use for the Cloud is to store data. You will probably have heard of applications including Dropbox and Google Drive – these are both examples of cloud-based storage systems that enable you to keep data in the cloud and allow it to be accessed by selected people anywhere in the world. This is a great method of sharing information almost instantaneously and will allow employees to work on the same document miles apart, rather than laboriously emailing it around every time a new edit is made. An added benefit of the Cloud is that it acts as a cheap back-up for any data you are storing on office hardware. If you have a Cloud-based place for your documents, as well as a physical or hardware location, you will be protected from most disasters.
Save on Hardware and Work Anywhere
If you want complete freedom to work from anywhere in the world, the Cloud can help facilitate that dream. Without being tied to hardware, you can access your documents by logging into whichever service you decide to use, and instantly work from wherever you happen to be. This can also help save you money on the expensive hardware needed to store vast quantities of files, and which your small business may not be able to afford as a priority. Of course, even if you are comfortable storing all your data in the Cloud, it is always recommended to keep a physical back-up for your most important files. If you want to find out more, this blog has more tips on back-up services that will ensure you never lose a kilobyte of data.
Investigate Security
The main drawback to the Cloud, as discussed above, is that it can constitute a security weakness. As Cloud services are based online, not in physical hardware, they are much more susceptible to hacks and password breaches. If you plan on using the Cloud integrally in your business, make sure you thoroughly research the security features of the service you use and invest in a cloud computing security program to fully protect you and your business.
- DISCLOSURE – This post has been written by an outside source.
