In a 2019 survey involving 786 technical professionals, 94 percent said they use the cloud. In fact, public cloud adoption is a top priority for 31 percent of businesses. According to the survey, most enterprises use multiple cloud computing solutions and hope to allocate even more of their IT budget to cloud services in the future.
Why are so many enterprises interested in the cloud? And if you already have a self-sufficient on-prem IT system, why move to cloud computing? According to Deloitte Insights, data security, IT costs and performance efficiency, and data modernization are the main drivers for cloud migration. Here is an in-depth look at the top 8 compelling reasons for moving to the cloud.
High-performance IT and low costs
Cloud infrastructures require little to zero upfront investment because you don’t have to purchase and set up expensive servers and networks. On top of that, you only pay for what you need through a cost-efficient subscription-based payment model. And since you never have to repair or service cloud equipment, it cuts IT support and maintenance costs.
Understanding on-premises infrastructure costs can be very complex as many costs are hidden, such as power, cooling, floor space, hardware lifecycles, warranties, etc. Cloud services give you deep visibility into your consumption and spending, allowing you to understand and optimize your costs. Lowered IT costs is a strong financial motivation for cloud migration, given that mid-sized companies and SMEs spend, on average, 8 percent of their revenue on IT.
Robust security and data protection
Cybercrimes are becoming more rampant and sophisticated, making it difficult for many organizations to meet and maintain increasingly demanding data protection and privacy standards. This has led to more and more entrepreneurs turning to third-party cybersecurity services through the cloud.
Cloud computing offers high-level security capabilities such as 24/7 monitoring, sophisticated encryption, data masking, and reliable access control. You can also enlist managed cloud security services for additional security layers.
Data modernization
Data modernization is the movement of data from legacy systems to more advanced data management applications. The main reason for modernizing data is to prepare it for high-tech enterprise tools, such as data analytics and visualization systems.
The cloud provides ideal infrastructures for modernizing and manipulating data through intelligent analysis to draw useful insights, such as consumer behaviour, market trends, and performance metrics.
Highly flexible and scalable infrastructure
The cloud is an on-demand service, meaning you can instantly get specific tools and features anytime you need them. Technical demands inevitably change over time as the business grows, so it’s crucial to have an IT infrastructure that’s flexible enough to scale up or down to meet dynamic requirements.
Unlike on-prem IT facilities where you practically have to overhaul the entire system to scale up digital capabilities, cloud scaling is much simpler and economical. With most cloud services, you only have to migrate to a higher subscription tier or customize your service package to get more storage space, computing capacity, or functionality.
Easy access from anywhere
The concept of cloud computing centres around hosted computing resources accessible from anywhere at any given time. Remote access lets you conduct business on the move without necessarily needing a physical workspace. It opens up your enterprise to exciting new opportunities, including convenient work-from-home policies, virtual workplaces, and regional expansions.
Reliable data backup and disaster recovery
Data backup and disaster recovery are major facets of business continuity planning and data security. Physical on-prem data storage facilities and data centres are highly susceptible to data loss caused by human error, accidents, and natural disasters such as fire and adverse weather conditions.
The cloud is an ideal data storage and backup solution with remarkably low risks. Cloud storage systems use sophisticated algorithms to store data on multiple interconnected servers in different locations. This storage approach creates redundancies and high tolerances that ensure data integrity and availability at all times. Cloud data is readily available and easily recoverable even when a server fails, or some of the data gets corrupted.
Additionally, some advanced cloud storage systems feature automated backup and recovery, safe deletion protocols, thorough user authentication, and data integrity checkers.
Up-to-date resources
Migrating to the cloud lets your business utilize the latest and most advanced enterprise tools available. In addition to maintaining the cloud environment, leading cloud service providers update and upgrade their systems to keep up with evolving technologies. Cloud updates are automatic, come at no extra cost, and reduce downtime.
Working with the latest software and hardware versions improves security, performance, and efficiency. With cloud services, you can focus on running your business without worrying about endless system updates or security patches.
Improved collaboration
Nowadays, collaboration in business does not always mean face-to-face communication, involving meetings and work sessions. Thanks to the internet and modern communication tools, engagements are not limited by physical constraints.
Cloud platforms are a great way to bring employees together in a collaborative teleworking environment. Interestingly, remote workers are 35-40 percent more productive than their office-based counterparts. Plus, a flexible work environment results in more engagement and higher employee retention rates. Integrating a virtual working platform with a physical office can also fill in engagement gaps and quickly boost collaboration and overall productivity.
Wrapping up
In a nutshell, moving to the cloud will improve your bottom line by enhancing workflow efficiency, cutting costs, and boosting productive collaborations. However, the cloud is not a single, one-size-fits-all solution. Cloud migration is a bit more complicated than simply subscribing to a cloud service. You have to carefully analyze your IT requirements and goals, business structure, and IT spending to figure out the most suitable cloud solutions for your business.
Still have questions about moving to the cloud. Let our cloud experts help you make the right decisions during cloud migration. Softlanding is a Gold Microsoft Partner providing IT consulting and managed services. We focus on assisting organizations in deploying and implementing Microsoft cloud solutions, such as Azure, Office 365, and MS teams. Contact us or call 888-976-3852 to schedule a consultation session.
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softlanding
Softlanding is a long-established IT services provider of transformation, professional services and managed IT services that helps organizations boost innovation and drive business value. We are a multi-award-winning Microsoft Gold Partner with 13 Gold Competencies and we use our experience and expertise to be a trusted advisor to our clients. Headquartered in Vancouver, BC, we have staff and offices in Toronto, Montreal and Calgary to serve clients across Canada.
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