Cloud Technology: What you need to know

Win over the challenges of rapid digitalisation, by mobilising cloud-based technology and moving your company data to the cloud. Moving towards cloud-based practices and data servers will boost your IT infrastructure enabling you to focus on developing opportunities.

More and more companies are opting for cloud infrastructure, taking their organisational data as well as applications to secure Cloud-based central hub with collective access. Cloud technology is at the top of the agenda in business transformation. The resulting impact of the Internet of Things (IoT) increases the potential of this technology multifariously.

So now, you find yourself in a position: If you don’t make the move to cloud computing, how will your company survive in the long term?

Perhaps you are ready to make the move but don’t know where to start, then read on – we have you covered.

What is cloud technology?

Cloud technology has disrupted everyday business operations in every imaginable way. We are shifting away from traditional methods of document sharing, such as print, emails, and USB memory sticks, and towards using cloud and live-stream applications.

Cloud facilities have everything hosted over a cluster of networks, referred to as a virtual space. This space is the storage unit for files, applications, and other enterprise resources, replacing traditional physical servers. Once the organisational infrastructure is moved to the cloud, it frees a business from the shackles of a physical location. With the huge increase in remote working it has given the cloud a new dimension, by allowing teams to work collaboratively, and flexibly unconstrained by their geographical location or their shift patterns.

When integrating IoT devices, cloud computing solutions such as Microsoft Azure help fetch data from each device and use it for analytics and reporting purposes.

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So, what does that mean in the real world?

Consider that you have a business in London, and your office is the direct point of contact for employees as well as customers. If you need to work on a shared file with an employee in a different branch or city, traditionally you might have emailed the file back and forth and may have several versions of the file saved on unrelated servers, or worse still on local machines. This can lead to errors in the document with changes being hard to track, plus can be insecure. Approval workflows can also be complicated.

Cloud technology allows data to be stored in a central server location, secured by the cloud service provider. All you need to do is grant access to the specific employees. Since the application is hosted over a virtual space, employees can log in to the server and access files 24/7 from any location in the world. Easy, right? Tools such as Microsoft 365, which includes Sharepoint, allow document version control, automatic back up to the cloud and easy collaboration. This ensures that errors are reduced, and productivity is maximised, because of improved workflow and security of data.

Now, this is just one minute aspect of cloud technology. Adopting the right cloud technology strategy has the potential to turn the tides.

The Microsoft cloud adoption framework is a great template for creating a better cloud implementation strategy in line with your business and technology requirements.

Benefits of Cloud Computing

Custom access control and running the office network without being in the building seems fascinating, but is the technology worth the hype?

Smoother and Faster Operations

The first, most vital advantage of using cloud solutions for your business is that it inevitably helps reduce operational cost. Cloud solutions reduce end-to-end operation costs by increasing the speed of operations, resulting in a greater output. It improves communication and helps teams sync data better. There is an initial investment in infrastructure, but there after it is a pay-as-you-go system, meaning that you never have to pay more than what you use.

Businesses can raise the quality of their services, reduce the turnaround time for tasks, and enhance processes with cloud deployment. With it, they can improve their profitability. That is why the cost of moving the entire infrastructure to Cloud is relative in the long-term.

The ease to store and access documents online reduces paperwork. This improves communications across the business and opens access to important data which might previously have been siloed by department. Less paperwork, more efficiency and less paper, reducing your carbon footprint.

Thankfully, cloud technology is more secure, more resilient, and fully redundant. In fact, if you plan and execute the migration effectively it will help reduce your cost of operation in the long-term.

All in all, if you weigh up the investment against the benefits-its a win/win.

Security at the top

As a business, you are responsible for anything and everything that happens with the data you own. So, it is important that the IT infrastructure is robust and secure, reducing the risk of data privacy compromise. When you move your infrastructure to the cloud, you may worry that shifting data will add vulnerability.

Cloud technology ensures end-to-end data encryption throughout transfer and storage. Cloud service providers also have inhouse IT security experts, working day in and out to monitor the network and keep it free from cyberattacks.

The move to working from home and IOT may generate other vulnerabilities for businesses, however, there are simple tools available to protect you. This includes laptop encryption, VPN login, and Multi-factor Authentication which can be implemented quickly and easily. ITVET can work with you to provide more tools to ensure Cloud security and secure your business.

Provide Flexibility to your Organisation

Running a business means you have multiple things to take care of. Imagine the time you have spent dealing with IT issues and data storage. How many times are you unable to focus on your customer, running the risk of losing out? This is where cloud technology can help.

Cloud computing servers are flexible and have a team of highly skilled engineers working behind the scenes to regularly monitor the system around the clock, ensuring there are no interruptions.

Cloud technology also delivers on scalability. If you wish to increase your bandwidth at any point, you can do it quickly and swiftly, usually at the touch of a button.

Analytics for better decision-making through in-depth insights

Data is of huge importance to businesses today. With every device generating tons of data each day, it is important to make sense of this data and use it to make informed business decisions.

Cloud computing technology helps you with cloud analytics rendering custom-fit reports on organisation-wide data. This helps get in-depth insights on everything that is happening within the organisation and modifying your strategic decisions and improve performance and efficiency.

Are ready to start transforming your business with cloud technology? ITVET have over 12 years’ experience in delivering end-to-end cloud solutions. We have a diverse portfolio and experience in deploying cloud solutions to organisations across a multitude of industries. Get in touch today for a free consultation with one of our cloud experts.