13 Things You Need To Consider Before Bringing Your Business To The Cloud

Individuals, businesses, non-profit organizations and schools are heading to the cloud.

The innovation in the cloud-computing industry is emphatically transforming the workplace as a greater abundance of data is being stored. Data is being accessed from anywhere and everywhere and the way workers are performing their job duties is evolving. The cloud era is here to stay and it’s changing how professionals manage their companies.

It can be overwhelming to find the right service that fits your business.

That’s where this primer comes in: to give you tips on the best software to select, to align the right goals to fit the mission, to address the all-important security puzzle still top-of-mind for firms opting for cloud technology.

Program solutions

Let’s face it: a business has a lot to complete during all hours of the day. With constant emails, customer inquiries, price fluctuations, technological advancements and employment standards, a company and its workforce maintain a long to-do list every day of the week.

Here are three software programs that can help solve those troublesome issues:

Producteev: this online task management application was created to assist in managing tasks and the team from whereever the user is stationed. Tasks are produced in the user’s account, alerts can be established for deadlines and files can always be added to tasks. The program can be accessed through an array of devices and websites.
Samepage: team members can add, share and organize files on a single page with Samepage. Users simply drag and drop files from the computer or a cloud storage facility onto a page and other members of the team can comment on the same page. Online files can also be synchronized to the user’s computer as well as other team members’ devices.
Remember the Milk: this task management software is very popular to use because of its simple online to-do list creation. Instead of using sticky notes and notepads, users can write down important notes on this program’s app, which can be shared with others. Remember the Milk’s app is available to download on all mobile devices.
Mozy: cloud backup, synchronization and mobile access are some of the features that make Mozy an important contributor to the cloud industry and a popular service for businesses, IT professionals and consumers. The app is user-friendly and all the files are updated every day, plus it maintains military-quality security.

Connecting business to cloud

There doesn’t seem to be any sign in sight that companies are slowing down this cloud migration. The question that is often asked by businesses is how can an enterprise actually foster this cloud implementation so the workforce can adapt accordingly.

Here are three things to consider to ensure your business is making the right decision to participate in the gradual cloud adoption.

IT staff: does your business have an excellent information technology staff? If not then this is a hint that the cloud may be your best destination because the cloud is regularly handled by external cloud services. Also, cloud computing is simple to manage, access and use, even for non-tech-savvy workers on your team.
Computers: does your business have an exorbitant budget that allows for continual purchasing for high-end computers and mobile devices? Small businesses are on a tight budget so going cloud is the right move to save your company on technology costs since it can be accessed on any computer, smartphone or tablet. As the BYOD trend persists, anyone can take advantage of the cloud.

Servers: do your business servers consistently experience problems? Server crashes can seriously diminish revenues, cost money to remedy and hurt workforce morale. With cloud management, your company doesn’t have to worry constantly about troubleshooting, downtime or room in budgets to repair or replace the old servers.

Can the cloud benefit your business?

Cloud computing has produced another push of innovation in the computer science industry. There have been various benefits for enterprises when it comes to installing cloud computer capabilities, particularly when looking at the firm’s bottom line, which can help the workforce perform their job better and enhance their technology functions.

Here are three benefits of incorporating the cloud into your business model:

Competitive advantage: while a growing number of businesses are using the cloud, not every single company is taking advantage of cloud services, which means your business can essentially one-up your competitors (but be sure you’re using the cloud correctly rather than just having it for the sake of having it).
Lower costs: as the industry continues to experience a plethora of new services, SMBs have an array of companies with different prices to choose from. In addition, smaller enterprises don’t have to concern themselves with equipment malfunctions, server crashes, lost hard drives and constant technology updates. Also, diminished operating costs can leave room for promotions, bonuses and raises for workers.
Productivity: access business software has improved productivity levels since employees can gain admittance to cloud data. This means businesses can refrain from paying high sums of money on business licenses.

Security protocols change

Since pretty much any employee with clearance can access cloud data, businesses have to take extra caution when allocating credentials to staff members when accessing corporate cloud data. Studies have highlighted that companies have tackled “rogue” employees, which has become a common everyday security issue.

Once a business brings cloud computing to their daily business practices, security protocols must be revised accordingly because then otherwise the company risks sacrificing sensitive corporate data on the cloud. Without necessary measures to ensure cloud data is safe, the company can be in serious danger.

Here are three ways to modify security protocols among your team members:

Cloud Encryption Gateway: this type of program is constructed to maintain the end-user experience and compatibility while at the same time security the sensitive corporate data as it moves, stands still or is in the cloud. These gateways must be collaborative, too, between company officials, IT and security personnel.

Password updates: in order to avoid leaks, data infiltrations and security breaches, passwords must be updated on a daily basis and then transferred over to the employees with permitted access to the cloud storage.
Cloud services: of course, one of the greatest security protocols to consider is selecting the cloud service with one of the best security apparatuses in the industry. Talk to other firms about the services they use. Find out if they’re confident about the cloud services’ security layers.

Photo via Jon Evans