According to IDG’s 2018 Cloud Computing Survey, 73 percent of companies have transferred a portion of their data to the cloud, and another 17 percent have plans to migrate to the cloud within the next year. For more than a third of businesses, their IT department was under pressure to move infrastructure 100 percent to the cloud. Many organizations use a multi-cloud strategy, citing advantages such as increased options, as well as faster, easier disaster recovery.
For new businesses opening their doors in 2020, the ability to ride the wave of rapidly changing technology and stay ahead of the competition demands full adoption of this technology from the start.
Here are five ways the cloud can help your start-up get a head start.
1. Use the Latest Technology and Stay Current
Today’s cloud applications cover nearly every aspect of business, including document creation and office productivity, collaboration, customer relationship management, website management, application hosting, data security, network storage, and file sharing. With new cloud apps appearing regularly, a startup can ramp up its capabilities quickly and cost-effectively by taking advantage of scalable solutions without the need for an IT department and costly maintenance.
Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is a cloud-based technology that has revolutionized business. A must-have for companies that want to compete at the highest levels, VoIP allows for multimedia communications over the internet. Cloud-based OfficePhone features immediately elevate your startup’s public profile by giving employees the ability to work and collaborate from any location and professionally routing incoming calls.
2. Enhance Remote Collaboration and Work Anytime, Anywhere
Boost productivity by letting your employees work and collaborate remotely. From cloud video conferencing to accessing, editing, and sharing internal documents, your team can telecommute effectively and stay productive while traveling. Mobile access to data through smartphones and other devices keeps staff always in touch with each other and their clients. As with other cloud-based applications, all upgrades are automatic.
3. Control Internal Documents
Cloud storage provides companies of all sizes with total visibility and control over their data, advanced security features, and a high level of protection for sensitive company documents. Managers can set up users for different levels of access to specific documents. It eliminates the challenge of version control, for documents that are accessed and worked on by multiple individuals.
4. Recover Quickly From a Disaster
Cloud computing gives you a reliable off-site backup, should your facility lose power or experience a security breach. A disaster recovery plan is essential for any business, but for smaller companies that don’t have the cash flow or the expertise, using cloud-based backup is a smart decision. It helps them avoid a large upfront investment, lets them benefit from security expertise, and ensures business continuity.
5. Save on Energy Costs and Reduce Your Carbon Footprint
Companies can save not just money (on infrastructure and utility costs), but also energy usage. Cloud-based solutions reduce the organization’s carbon footprint — a strong selling point for any new business. Since cloud computing is completely scalable, you use only the amount of energy your business needs. This reduces the environmental impact, for a more sustainable future.
Cloud computing puts a start-up business immediately at the leading edge of technology and ahead of their competition. Enterprise companies are moving their data to the cloud for flexibility and lower costs, and for start-ups, the benefits are even greater. They can stay current and use new technology cost-effectively, enhance employee productivity, control company data, be prepared for the unexpected, save money and be eco-friendly.
