Individuals and small businesses have been quick to board the cloud computing train. Enterprises, on the other hand, have lagged a bit behind. This is due to many reasons, one major one being security concerns. However, it seems that big businesses are finally finding their way to the cloud. A recent study by IDG found that 69% of enterprises have applications or infrastructure running in the cloud already. Furthermore, by the end of 2015, 24% of IT budgets will be allocated to cloud solutions.
Lower Costs
Businesses of all sizes inevitably end up facing the moment of needing to centralize or upgrade technology. This leads to major costs, including those of purchasing new hardware and software, installation and maintenance. The switch to the cloud not only saves the IT team time and stress, but also a lot of money, as the cloud vendor takes on the responsibilities of purchasing, installing, managing and maintaining the infrastructure powering your cloud solution.
Renting cloud applications will probably end up being cheaper than purchasing these programs outright – especially when you’re getting the latest updates along with your subscription. Energy costs will also go down because the big businesses won’t be powering huge server rooms. This leads to possibly millions saved in electricity costs. And by having the flexibility to choose which features and services you want in the cloud, enterprises avoid costs that don’t apply to their needs, because ultimately, it’s up to them!
Ubiquity is key.
Employee mobility is a huge driver to cloud adoption. Cloud allows data and programs to be available on any device, in any location, as long as the employee has their authorized login information and Internet access. This is huge! 73% of enterprises are already seeing improved business performance since implementing cloud-based apps and strategies. When employees can be as productive away from the office as they are in it, efficiency will increase substantially. And for large businesses that have multiple locations, possibly globally, this ability is key. It allows your users to remain collaborative and connected, no matter where they are. Better yet, cloud technology is easy for users to get a hang of, so they can get started right away.
Limitless Data
Cloud offers enterprises the ability to handle limitless amounts of data quickly and efficiently. If your business needs to expand quickly, cloud allows you to add the resources you need then and there. Companies can meet the needs and expectations of clients and employees, while adding competitive advantage and capitalizing on various business opportunities.
With the scalability of cloud computing, large businesses can meet demands in peak times, like holidays or during large projects. With traditional computing, there’s always the risk of not having enough capacity to meet these demands, or purchasing too much and not fully utilizing it. With the cloud, it’s much more flexible and accurate. You get the capacity you need, exactly when you need it. And when you want to scale back again, it’s easy.
Security is reliable.
Yes, this has been a huge obstacle for big businesses, but many are finally beginning to see that cloud security is reliable. The concern is understandable, as enterprises have to worry about company and customer data, as well as compliance with industry regulations.
However, let’s be clear: cloud security is not inherently less than the existing security of enterprises today. Cloud providers tend to have greater access to the necessary resources to provide great security, and they employ experts in the field. Client security is their top concern, as their business relies on it. They conduct continuous monitoring and auditing, and are able to address irregular activity right away without interrupting your daily operations. It’s on the enterprise to check that all criteria is met when it comes to security before moving to the cloud, and that relies on researching and choosing a reputable cloud vendor.
The Advantage of Big Data
Big data allows businesses to conduct advanced analysis on their databases. Cloud computing and big data offer businesses the opportunity to crunch large amounts of data, and therefore react faster to any changes in the market. This quick response is possible within a reliable and secure cloud model.
Cloud computing allows businesses to store huge amounts of data, but it also provides the ability to sift through and analyze it all. This gives enterprises a competitive advantage and the chance to gain the intelligence needed to grow, innovate and create realistic business goals.
Implementing cloud computing into your large company doesn’t have to mean conducting a complete overhaul. The point of cloud technology is that you can apply it where it works best for you, whether you’re a big or small company. Most enterprises will begin with small steps and then pick up speed as they gain greater confidence in cloud computing.
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