Moving your business to the cloud

20th March 2018

Should my business move to the cloud or stick with on-premise? It’s a question that has outgrown debate. Cloud is evolving from a market disruptor to an expected approach for traditional and next-generation IT and Telecoms. Those businesses surging into the cloud as the foundation for digital transformation are subscribing not only to a price plan, but a revolution. One that is changing the way users work – the way IT and Telecoms works – preparing for a cloud-centric future.

Ultimately, it all comes down to doing more with less. Moving your business to the cloud means that instead of storing data and installing software applications on your firm’s own physical hard drive, you store your data and access applications remotely via the internet.

Removing the burden of having on-site infrastructure, whilst still achieving the competitive advantage that comes with using the software, means more office space and less hours wasted on IT and Telecoms maintenance. That means dedicating less time to being a repair service and more time to improving business operations, launching initiatives and establishing a business that is future-proof.

Using the cloud can also work out cheaper than buying storage and software for your hard drive, because the services are offered on a subscription-based model, so you only pay for what you need, and you can add or remove services as required. This level of scalability means your business can expand without the headaches and additional costs that are part and parcel of legacy systems. It’s also ideal for any business that has fluctuating demands, allowing your IT and Telecoms infrastructure to dynamically scale based on your business demand and growth.

Anytime, anywhere access is seen as a necessity rather than a competitive edge in today’s increasingly fragmented and always-on digital world. Data has become the currency of business, and collaboration is the fuel. Cloud is modelled on this notion, unfettering businesses from the restraints of physical location and allowing true collaboration to flourish around the clock.

With cloud, you no longer have to download, modify and store the latest document. Instead, users can work on a single master document that is saved automatically by the web as changes are made. And when changes are made, users on other devices can see these occur in real time. This will improve workflow and nurture communication between coworkers, even if they find themselves on different continents.

Collaboration doesn’t stop there. With a Unified Communications system (UC), employees are able to answer their deskphone from a softphone on their PC, smartphone or tablet. Whether working off site, from home, or even on mobile, users are able to use real time communications to deliver first time, every time. This means employees no longer need to give out their office mobile number because they can take their softphone with them. Considering that 60% of workers carry out communications outside office hours, the one number concept is the number one concept.

Embracing cloud not only assists the bottom line, it also helps tighten company security. With teams of data security specialists focusing on protecting your data, the cloud is one of the most secure ways to store information. Managing your own security can become costly over time, with the constant need of upgrading to the highest standards and meeting compliance. With a cloud provider, systems have to at least match the data security standards of the industry they serve. So you can rest assured that your cloud vendor is supplying the most current and up to date security.