With remote working and e-commerce taking over, businesses have astonishing amounts of data that needs to be stored. Hard disks are still used but come with many limitations for modern needs. Businesses need a storage option that allows easy access to files yet is secure enough to replace traditional storage like hard disks. Thankfully, the cloud has all of those capabilities and more.
Here are four reasons why you should start using cloud storage for business:
Cheaper Than Traditional Data Centers
Let’s face it, cost-saving is a top priority for most businesses, as very few can afford significant spending without consequence. Cloud storage will significantly reduce the cost of storing data for the following reasons:
- It’s much easier to set up
- There’s no need to buy or maintain hardware,
- The cloud can hold just as much data as an expensive data center.
As cloud storage becomes a commodity and hardware costs continue to rise, it’s safe to expect the cloud to remain the most cost-effective storage solution for years. Cloud storage prices decline 20-30% annually. It’s gotten to the point where businesses no longer care about deleting old files to save storage space.
More Capabilities That Increase Productivity
Since cloud storage isn’t set up locally on a device, it allows all employees to access data from a central location. This makes it far easier to exchange files, boosting the efficiency and productivity of the entire organization.
Files will update as people work on them, syncing across all devices with cloud access. Solid cloud services include encryption, which is far more convenient than encrypting each hard drive individually.
As many businesses encourage BYOD (bring your own device,) employees can now access business apps and services from their personal phones or computers.
Other simple cloud features like file previews are also great for boosting productivity.
It’s safer than you think
One of the main reasons physical data centers haven’t completely died off yet is because some people still consider them a safer option than the cloud. With cybercrime at an all-time high, it’s probably good to be wary about these things.
But that doesn’t mean that cloud storage isn’t or can’t be safe. Some may argue that the cloud is even safer than keeping files on a hard drive. The millions of hackers who gain access to victims’ computers daily would certainly agree.
With that said, there are many cloud services out there, so choosing ones with a high emphasis on security certainly matters. Major cloud storage providers offer end-to-end encryption and many other security features like:
24/7 Monitoring
Cloud storage providers spend a lot of resources on maintaining the security of their service. Security teams monitor servers for quality control, while software teams push out updates to boost security and address vulnerabilities.
Multi-factor authentication (MFA)
It’s challenging for hackers to breach an organization’s cloud. There are many obstacles in the way, primarily 2FA or MFA, which verify the user before granting them cloud access.
Multiple Backups
Creating backups is the fastest way to recover lost or tampered data. Cloud services back up data not just once but multiple times. The files are stored in various servers in data centers around the world. If one server fails, the data will remain intact.
Once your data is backed up, you can be assured it’s safe and secure. You can quickly restore data from cloud storage if you experience data loss.
But if you want to make the most out of your data backups, some tips must be considered. For instance, it’s essential to conduct backups regularly or at least once daily.
Pick a cloud storage plan that meets your requirements, like the amount of storage space you need, the cost, and the features offered.
Lastly, encrypt your data to add a layer of security to your backups and test them to ensure they’re working properly.
Scalability
Cloud storage is much more easily scalable than traditional data storage. With the cloud, you pay for what you use. You can always increase or decrease your used resources based on your needs.
Scaling your resources on the cloud is easy. IT administrators can add more VMs (virtual machines) with just a few clicks. This allows businesses to meet dynamic business demands with speed and efficiency.
Apart from storage space, many cloud services also offer performance scalability.
Scalability is an integral part of the flexibility offered by cloud storage. It refers to the ability to adapt cloud resources to meet changing business needs.
This is where the option of dedicated servers for cloud storage becomes relevant.
Dedicated cloud servers offer enhanced scalability and are beneficial for the following reasons:
- Reduced IT Costs: By utilizing dedicated cloud servers, your business can lower IT costs by eliminating the need to purchase and maintain hardware and software.
- Improved Productivity: Dedicated servers can help boost productivity by allowing employees to easily access information and collaborate on projects.
Therefore, if you consider using cloud storage servers, be sure to evaluate your provider’s flexibility. With dedicated cloud servers, your business can ensure successful cloud deployment.
Final Thoughts
Cloud services have taken over the business data storage market, and it’s easy to see why. They are much cheaper than traditional storage options while offering easier scalability and accessibility.
With all these benefits, they’re also just as safe as physical data centers. With that said, remember that not all cloud services are made equal. Select the service that best suits your needs and prioritizes security above all else.
Encrypted cloud storage risks can be managed to get some awareness about business operations. Join the community of the world’s top cryptography algorithms and ciphers and choose the best-recommended plans to get satisfied from trusted and valued sources.
State-of-the-art security is available to manage your data carefully and to proceed with instant and smart choices according to work challenges and type of business needs.