Cloud technology isn’t new. In fact, in a survey carried out by global business advisors PwC, 78% of companies said they were already utilising it in some form – although more than half of those admitted they could still unlock further value from cloud transformation.
So, if your business has yet to join the cloud revolution, what exactly is it and, even if you have taken the first steps, how can migration help drive your operation to new levels?
What is the Cloud?
Cloud providers use off-site server networks to enable you to effortlessly access your company’s files, services, databases and applications whenever and wherever you need them, via any device connected to the internet.
As this technology allows data to be stored and managed over the web, it doesn’t rely on local hardware and means you don’t have to invest in – and maintain – expensive kit yourself.
5 benefits to your business of cloud migration
Migrating to the cloud can bring major benefits for businesses. Research by Google, for example, showed that SMEs utilising the technology grew 26% faster and were 21% more profitable than similar operations who didn’t.
Here are just five of the advantages switching to the cloud could bring.
1. Enhanced scalability and flexibility
No matter the size or type of your company, your IT needs are going to change over time. Traditionally, this could pose a major headache, with lengthy and costly infrastructure implications.
But, with the cloud model, as business needs fluctuate, you can seamlessly scale up to accommodate heightened usage and then scale back down if demand subsides.
The cloud’s flexibility empowers companies to allocate resources based on employee location and needs, allowing teams to access applications and data from anywhere, enabling remote and hybrid working.
2. Save on costs and benefit the environment
As you strive to ensure your operations are effective for current and future needs, undoubtedly, you’ll also want to consider efficiency and cost mitigation. Cloud-based software can help you reach that goal.
A recent statistic report from Gitnux, a digital strategy consulting business, showed that 80% were saving money as a result of moving hosting services and productivity to the cloud – with average cost reductions of 20% being achieved.
Businesses benefit from less physical space – and associated costs – being required for local infrastructure and cooling systems, while equipment, maintenance and upgrade costs, associated with owning your data centre, are eliminated. This allows more effective use of internal resources, with your team freed up to concentrate on other priorities.
Migrating to the cloud has environmental benefits too. On average, using the cloud delivers a 30% reduction in energy consumption and carbon emissions per business because cloud providers consolidate resources in more energy-efficient data centres.
3. Improved access and productivity
The digital age demands seamless collaboration and access to resources regardless of location. Cloud migration facilitates remote work, enabling team members to share resources, communicate and jointly innovate with colleagues and clients, wherever they are in the world.
Microsoft’s research found that increased access was a key driver in migration for more than half of businesses.
Forty two per cent of those surveyed also cited improvements to productivity as a major reason for moving to the cloud, while a separate study by Frevvo showed that 59% of SMBs reported increased productivity following migration.
4. Enhanced security and compliance
The security of your data is paramount and cloud providers invest heavily in state-of-the-art security measures, encryption and access controls to safeguard your sensitive information.
Cloud architects ensure security is deployed across access ports, devices and applications, with 24/7 monitoring and responsive threat management systems in place to minimise risk from threats such as denial of service.
A robust cloud security solution can also manage the entire data lifecycle, with critical data protected via encryption, strong passwords and multi-factor authentication, and provide enhanced solutions for regulated industry customers to satisfy compliance and protect personal and financial data.
For cloud service providers, it’s important that they operate within the boundaries of applicable laws and regulations, such as GDPR in Europe or HIPAA in the healthcare industry, as well as industry-specific regulations like PCI DSS for financial institutions.
5. Boosted reliability and disaster recovery
Cloud migration offers your business an advantage when it comes to ensuring your operations continue uninterrupted.
Traditional on-premises setups can be vulnerable to several disruptions, such as hardware failures, natural disasters, power outages or cyberattacks. Without a back-up plan, this can be costly to your business, especially when considering the estimated survival rate of companies without a disaster recovery plan is less than 10%, according to research.
Cloud migration equips you with robust business continuity mechanisms. Your critical data and applications are replicated and backed-up across multiple geographic locations, ensuring their availability even in the face of outages and emergencies.
This enhanced resilience minimises disruption and downtime and safeguards your company’s reputation.
Migrate to the cloud with Microsoft Azure
At Cloud Central, we recommend partnering with Microsoft Azure for your cloud computing needs.
Microsoft Azure is a secure and trusted cloud computing platform that aids organisations in constructing, deploying and managing applications and services. One of Azure’s key benefits is its flexibility and how it allows you to deploy its applications and services in the public, private, or hybrid cloud.
Plus, if your business already uses Microsoft products, Azure provides seamless integration with familiar applications like Office 365, SharePoint, and more. This can lead to smoother workflows and better collaboration among teams.
How Cloud Central and Microsoft Azure can help you
Cloud Central are a leading provider of cloud services to small and medium sized enterprises across the UK. Working closely with you, we’ll help you migrate to Microsoft Azure effectively, supporting your business every step of the way – and helping you become more productive, more flexible, more collaborative and more efficient.
To learn more about how we can support your business in migrating to the cloud, get in touch with us today.
