How cloud technology is essential for the future of business
In 2020, the importance of cloud technology became all too clear. The ability to work as a team online from various locations is now a critical function of many businesses. Cloud technology is no longer a business perk—it’s an essential aspect of running a successful business.
The cloud technology that was once a future business goal for many is now an urgent need for company continuity. Learn more about the essential role cloud technology plays in running a business as well as what to expect for the future of your business in 2020 and beyond.
How the cloud is changing business
Benefits of cloud computing for businesses
Cloud technology has brought about positive change for businesses of all types and sizes. It simplifies processes, tracks progress, saves time, and offers endless backup solutions. It’s allowed for the success and growth of remote teams and given more flexibility to businesses and workers alike. In many ways, cloud technology has revolutionized the way we work.
Simple cloud solutions can upgrade your work processes in ways that weren’t possible before. Microsoft Teams is a chat-based workspace in Office 365 that allows groups of colleagues to collaborate and communicate securely online within the same window. With Teams, you can communicate in pairs, groups, or with your entire workforce. You can share, edit, and store files in one secure online location, run virtual meetings, and collaborate no matter where each person is located.
Learn more in our Microsoft Teams beginner’s guide.
How do businesses thrive with cloud computing?
It’s all about the tools and resources available to your business. Choosing the right technology is crucial for maintaining business operations. It’s an investment, one that should not be taken lightly. The wrong tools can reduce productivity, leave workers unhappy, and in the worst cases, result in downtime or a security breach.
As a business owner, you don’t want to waste money on tools that don’t help your business or work the way they should, but you also don’t want to skimp on your business’ critical tech needs. Take the time to get to know the specific needs of your business processes and the people performing them. As with any new tech, research options, read reviews, and ask experts to ensure you make the most informed decisions when it comes to the cloud.
What does it mean for the future of business?
Security is more important than ever before
We’re sure you’ve heard it all before—security is important. There’s a reason you hear this all the time from your tech department and hired Gurus. With all of your dealings and processes online, your business may be vulnerable to security attacks if the proper precautions aren’t taken. Ensure you understand your security procedures and that you have a detailed backup plan in place. Ask your tech department to ensure that even if you don’t understand your backup and security policies, there’s someone reliable who does. If you don’t have your own technical team, hire external experts that can provide this service for you.
Have you considered a 3rd party option to secure your Office 365 data? You may be surprised to learn just how vulnerable your data is if you haven’t backed it up outside of Office 365.
No longer defined by a physical location
The advancement of cloud technology has broken many geographical restrictions for businesses. This is a trend that’s likely to continue as more businesses adopt new ways of working in these changing times. If properly utilized, this can be a huge advantage for businesses that may now be able to reach customers in more locations nationally, or, in some cases, globally.
Even if your customers are still defined by your geographical location, you can now hire with more ease from a wider talent pool. Businesses that are able to work remotely using cloud tools are able to look for talent beyond what’s locally available. And the majority of workers today are demanding at least some remote-work flexibility. Embracing remote opportunities for your business will mean you have endless possibilities for recruiting the very best talent, no matter where they happen to live.
Adapt or be left behind: Why cloud computing is the future
The coronavirus crisis has proven that adaptability is critical to the survival of a business. This will remain an essential trait for successful businesses as we look to the future.
None of us can predict the future, but it is possible to plan for it. Give your business all of the resources it needs to ride out storms and adapt to the unexpected. Budget with care and be ready to make changes quickly wherever you need to. Forgoing agility for the status quo will lead to a stagnant organization that’s unprepared when crisis strikes.
Cloud services for small business
Don’t wait to consider cloud solutions until you are forced to by external forces. Adopting new technologies and preparing your company in advance will help ensure you aren’t caught off guard should the worst happen. The businesses we have worked with to adapt their technologies were the ones most prepared to deal with the 2020 crisis.
Allen Interactions, a nation-wide developer of e-learning solutions, needed to know they could guarantee a rapid return to business operations after any disruption. We worked with them to create a comprehensive business continuity and disaster recovery (BCDR) plan that brought unexpected benefits when the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted the normal ways of conducting business.
Move to the Cloud with a COUPLE of GURUS
A COUPLE of GURUS can secure and streamline your business IT, whether you’re at home or in the office. We have over 18 years of experience helping businesses like yours with IT projects, cybersecurity and compliance, cloud services, and managed IT services.
Contact a COUPLE of GURUS to learn more about transitioning your business technology to the cloud.
