In our fast-paced digital world, workers often jump between different devices and work a hybrid schedule, splitting their time between the office, the road, and home. Cloud computing gives users access to their data from anywhere, and all you need is an internet connection.
What Does the Cloud Mean?
The digital service known as cloud computing safely stores data and services on a remote server, giving users access to their company’s file storage anywhere.
Unlike traditional web hosting, which relies on physical servers to handle your company’s web needs, cloud hosting allows companies to utilize virtual space for file storage. This gives your business the flexibility and scalability to adjust your storage needs at a moment’s notice.
What is Cloud Computing Used For?
Cloud computing is a single term that includes several different types of cloud services. The top four types of cloud computing services that can help your business are below.
Cloud Backup: This is a failsafe option designed to be there if your company experiences data loss, a server crash, a hard drive issue, or even a cyberattack.
Cloud Storage: Unlike cloud backup, which is only in a worst-case scenario, cloud storage is a service for daily use. Cloud storage is an easy way to back up the files you need regular access to and allows you to easily share these files across multiple devices, including between your laptop and mobile devices.
Cloud Hosting: Includes information sharing with an internet phone system, data storage, application hosting, and email services. Cloud hosting provides businesses with cloud management tools to help them accomplish their goals.
SaaS: Software as a service (SaaS) is a platform that provides real-time service over the internet.
What is the Advantage of Using the Cloud for Business?
There are several advantages and benefits of cloud computing your business can experience when investing in cloud storage solutions. These include:
Scalable service – the cloud can upgrade as you scale at any time. If you need more storage, upgrades can occur to your plan in a matter of minutes.
Mobility – Files stored on a cloud hosting platform are available from anywhere. Multiple devices can open a single document all at the same time, meaning you can easily switch between your smartphone and work laptop.
Improved security – Instead of saving sensitive information and essential documents on your computer, at risk of hardware failure, the information saved to your cloud storage is housed at a data center. Even if your physical server crashes, your documents are safe.
Cost-saving – Cloud storage is significantly less expensive than investing in a private server, as it does not include the cost of hardware updates or routine maintenance.
How Can Using the Cloud Benefit my Business?
Opting for cloud services for your business comes with a long list of benefits, including:
Cost Efficiency
Housing and maintaining an in-house or on-premises server within your office requires time, money, and expertise. A cloud-based approach can provide you with a private service at a fraction of the cost. And by using STEADfast’s Data Center as your cloud storage service, you know exactly where your data is hosted.
Remote Programs
Large and small businesses rely on specialized software to get the job done. To install software on a work computer, the user must be in the office, and someone from the IT department must be available. Opting for a cloud platform allows employees to access the specialized software they need to do their jobs anywhere.
Accessible Data
Cloud computing allows users to store their data on the internet rather than on the hard drive of their desktop or work laptop. This makes file sharing and storage much more manageable and allows users to access their storage space anywhere, as long as they have the proper credentials and an internet connection.
Consistency
Collaboration is a critical component in business. When working together on a project, it is often helpful to be working from a single document. When too many workers try to access the same digital file, mistakes can happen.
Documents placed in a designed storage space on a cloud platform exist in a single location, and data sync automatically between devices. Automatic data syncing gives workers added confidence to work on the most recent and up-to-date version of a document.
Data Backup
Sometimes bad things happen. Power surges, hard drive failure, and even natural disasters can make your computer inoperable. By investing in a disaster recovery plan that includes keeping data backed up on the cloud, business owners can feel secure that their important files are safe if something terrible happens.
How Does Data Stay Safe in the Cloud?
Keeping your business’s data safe is of the utmost importance. Understanding the different ways cloud services store your data and host services is helpful when choosing which service provider meets your business’ needs. Most cloud services use one of three methods: public, private, and hybrid.
What Is a Public Cloud?
Built on an external platform, a provider runs a public cloud service. Businesses are purchasing their cloud within a more significant, shared infrastructure.
Providers that use this cloud storage method can offer several services and are used by a wide range of large and small businesses. A public cloud gives business owners access to the newest technology at a competitive and cost-effective price.
What is a Private Cloud?
This type of cloud-based data storage is built for your business and is managed by your own internal IT department. While companies who opt for this option have exclusive access and greater control of their cloud platform, it comes at a significantly higher cost.
What is a Hybrid Cloud?
A hybrid cloud is ideal for an organization that wants to store private, sensitive business-related data and sensitive information securely in house while opting to allow less secure data to be on a public cloud run by a third party.
If you’d like assistance with implementing cloud computing for your business, our team can help you choose the right service provider to fit your unique needs. Contact us to set up a free, no-pressure consultation with one of our remote IT specialists.
The Best Cloud Storage for Your Business
You deserve the best cloud storage option for your business needs. While there are a variety of cloud storage providers on the market, STEADfast IT offers its own proprietary service where you always know exactly where your data is stored, backed up, and accessed.
STEADfast’s Cloud Services features all of the safety and security of any major cloud computing provider with one main difference: You always know where your company data is.
Our Saratoga Springs Data Center features all of the critical components that all the major cloud service providers do. We can assist with cloud migration from your current management system, and ensure you receive reliability, redundancy, speed, real-time backup, security, and overall peace of mind and improve your company’s workflow.
In addition to offering cloud services for businesses, STEADfast also offers bandwidth and connectivity, technology management, enterprise telephony services, and more.
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