Top Technology Mistakes Small Businesses Make – And How To Avoid Them
Tired of storing data on your hard drive and worrying that you might lose those important files? With 94% of companies migrating critical applications and infrastructures to the cloud, what is stopping you? Is it adopting new skills or concerns that data too can get lost on the cloud? With the advantages of using both public and private cloud solutions, which give businesses more flexibility, here is why you should move your data resources to the cloud:
First, let us explain exactly what cloud computing does. The cloud is a storage option much like your hard drive, but it’s on the internet. Not only can files be stored on the cloud, but applications and resources can be stored and utilized through the cloud as well.
As a business, you choose a cloud provider that supplies a pay-as-you-go service to provide, customize and maintain your cloud account. The provider also maintains the network-connected hardware that provides an internet database for your business storage.
The cloud provides many benefits over using traditional hardware. Eventually, you will have more information than hard drive space and will have to invest in more physical storage. Compared to the affordability of cloud computing, paying for extra hard drive storage is expensive. Cloud computing storage space is endless, giving your business the opportunity to scale similar to enterprise organizations without paying for a data center.
Not only is cloud computing incredibly responsive, but it’s fast and easy to search and pull up information as you need it. You also have the ability to work from anywhere without being tied to an office desk, giving employees the flexibility to be more productive with easy access to resources.
Lastly, the cloud is a secure business operation option. Data breaches and hacks are happening right and left, but the cloud is customizable to provide various access levels to all of your employees. Unlike a hard drive, the cloud can provide information to certain users while blocking users from accessing more sensitive data. The encryption, or method of scrambling data so it’s unreadable to those who don’t have access, ensures that people outside of the authentication circle cannot access your data. From the medical industry to government, here is why you should store your data on the cloud:
The Magic of Cloud Computing
When you think of a cloud and its association with your computer, your first thought is probably, “that thing my iPhone tells me never has enough room to back up my phone’s information on.” While Apple’s iCloud system is probably the most prevalent cloud in today’s lexicon, more and more companies are getting on the cloud bandwagon to improve their systems and overall businesses. Take a look at how some large companies have utilized cloud systems and how you can apply their successes to your small business.
Forbes recently profiled three businesses that have successfully used cloud computing to make their businesses exponentially better. The Hartford has updated its IT systems to include a private cloud which the company hopes to use in an effort to reduce costs, improve the overall availability of its system and to bring products to market with greater speed. Delhaize America, most notable for its operation of Food Lion grocery stores, is using a SoftLayer cloud computing system to study how weather affects sales at its stores in an effort to help make smarter decisions about store inventory. Pearson, an education company, is using its cloud systems to supply digital educational materials to fast-growing markets like South Africa and China to alleviate the costs of having to have a physical presence in those countries.
According to Forbes, the three companies listed above are great examples of how you can use cloud systems and mold them to your business’s needs. Some companies like Delhaize start small while some companies like Pearson have big plans and maximize the use of their cloud systems. So how can you determine how much cloud space you need for your company? CircleID has some great suggestions on what to look for in determining the right cloud for you:
- Growth – Don’t get more cloud space than you need in your current situation. You have the option of renting cloud space instead of just buying your own. That way you can more easily determine how much space you need from month-to-month and you are generally guaranteed the latest models. You won’t have to spend countless dollars upgrading your own cloud system and if you need more space at any given time, you can rent it.
- Synchronicity – As business models grow, many companies are choosing to save money by not having huge office spaces and allowing employees to work from home. This requires there to be a cloud system in place for employees to share vital documents and information in a centralized location. This also allows mobile devices, tablets and computers to have access to the same information.
- Specificity – Small businesses don’t necessarily want to spend money on their own cloud system, but that’s where companies like MDL come into play. We can help you determine what services you need on your cloud and can help you decide whether to start small or go all out and let you specify exactly what you need from cloud computing services.
You don’t have to model your small business after the big dogs in order to succeed. That’s one of the great benefits of cloud computing models. You can decide price points, just what you need out of a cloud system and can opt for smaller or larger spaces on a cloud depending on your needs at any given time.
Cloud Computing for Government
Cloud computing is growing exponentially, but many entities still have reservations about using the cloud for their data management and data storage. Many local governments fear that the cloud is insecure and expensive, but those are just some of the many misconceptions about the cloud. It is important for local governments to understand the benefits of cloud computing.
- Increased Security
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- The root of reservations about switching to the cloud comes from a misguided belief that the cloud is insecure. Many imagine a private, enterprise cloud the same way they view the cloud storage on their phones. Yet the enterprise cloud that a government would be using is far more secure than other data storage options. Data encryption is used for safeguarding and the government office can specify how many clearance steps are required for different people in the office.
- Flexibility of Resources
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- When you use cloud computing, you open your office up to utilize resources in a more fluid and flexible way. The cloud can allow you to create new operational systems, both for internal and external use, that would have eaten up room and speed in a hard drive. For example, you can create a utility bill pay section of the city website for users to pay for all city utilities online without having to keep a complicated database on a hard drive.
- Simplify Your Data
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- Consolidating your data into cloud storage options gives you the opportunity to clean out your files and organize them in a way that is efficient and useful. Instead of sorting through an outdated file system, you can customize how your data is stored and accessed. You can even input search terms to find data faster.
- Reduce Costs
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- The federal government moved to cloud computing and a big reason was because of the reduction of costs. Instead of having an IT infrastructure or paying someone to maintain the systems, you can place data in the cloud which self-maintains and self-updates. You will always have the most up-to-date technology working for you without a team of people sitting in front of computers managing updates.
- Grow the Team’s Skillset
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- InformationWeek points out that when the people in your office are no longer spending all of their time messing with servers thanks to the ease and efficiency of cloud computing, they can spend their time developing other skillsets that benefit the local government. This could be as simple as spending their time on projects the community is asking for completion without having an overly full plate.
Cloud Computing for Construction Companies
Technology has been a constant in the construction industry since the 1990s when companies realized how much of their resources were wasted on paper plans and mailing proofs Cloud computing is the next step in the construction industry’s technology era, yet 30% of construction companies are still hesitant to make the leap as of a 2013 study by Sefaira. Once you migrate, the benefits of cloud computing are known immediately.
- Cost Savings
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- The first and arguably most important benefit you are going to see from cloud computing is the cost savings. Eighty-two percent of companies that moved to cloud computing saved money in their projects. Instead of creating an IT infrastructure that is expensive to install and maintain, the cloud provides a cheaper way to store all of your data and perform administrative processes, such as billing. You also don’t have to worry about expensive server updates as the cloud upgrades automatically free of charge.
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- Build Client Relationships
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- Cloud computing allows you to easily store and access all information about a client’s project whenever you need it. When communicating with clients, you can easily pull up their information and pick up where you last left off. The easy management of their projects allows you the chance to build a relationship with clients so they recommend you to others and use you for future projects.
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- Customization Without Complication
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- Cloud systems allow construction companies to custom-build a data storage and management system for their specific business goals. Sounds complicated? It is actually the opposite. Your cloud management provider will create a system for you and manage all the nitty-gritty IT details. This allows you to focus on your core business processes without having to worry about managing the IT infrastructure. As mentioned above, the technology of the cloud allows it to automatically update. The provider also sets up your cloud so it instantly backs up all of your data. There is no need to worry about a catastrophe or data breach occurring where data is lost. The cloud is more secure than hardware systems or paper files.
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- Match Competition
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- As a smaller construction company, it can be difficult to compete with the construction giants. The cloud allows you to take leaps forward in matching your competition. The technology of cloud computing gives smaller companies the chance to be on an enterprise-level of data storage, management, access and recovery at a fraction of the cost that enterprises are spending.
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- Enjoy Flexibility
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- The construction industry doesn’t have one office. Eighty-three percent of contractors use smartphones, tablets or laptops on the job site. You may have space at home you work at, an official office where your administration works, a lot where you keep your tools and every site where a construction project is happening. You need your work on the go. The cloud allows you to store all of your work on a virtual space to be accessed anywhere. On the weekend, you can hammer out the details of a project at home and bring it to the client’s project site on Monday with the touch of a button.
The construction industry is competitive and expensive. The cloud can help your company reduce costs, match competition, remain flexible, build up client relationships and completely customize your data without extra complications. So, why aren’t you on the cloud yet?
Cloud Computing for Healthcare
Unfortunately, healthcare organizations today have many things to focus on other than patient health. In fact, the infrastructure it takes to support clinical care delivery continues to expand each year. IT is one of the largest contributors to that growth, according to Afia Health. Every health care organization should prioritize IT support, as technology becomes more integrated within the industry. Health care organizations have many options when it comes to technological changes, but the best option right now is the cloud.
Studies show that by the end of the year, 80% of organizations will be utilizing the cloud in some way. So why do health care organizations need the cloud? Here are the top advantages.
Lower Costs
The decision to move to the cloud can significantly help health care organizations lower IT costs. The cloud holds more data, for a lower price. According to 8K Miles, cloud-based applications cost 50% less than traditional in-house hosted applications. Cloud software also helps cut the cost of expensive hardware, and the resources needed to develop and test traditional software.
Increased Accessibility
The cloud helps make health care data accessible to doctors anywhere at any time. This feature also allows doctors to collaborate more efficiently. By allowing professionals to store and access data remotely, health care professionals around the world can gain access to patient data immediately and apply the necessary care without a delay, according to Cloud Computing News.
Better Security and Reliability
The cloud provides organizations the ability to automate backups and disaster recovery plans. This keeps crucial data safe in the case of a natural disaster or data breach. Computers running on cloud-based software can be remotely wiped in the event of theft or breach.
The cloud’s many benefits make it the best option for health care organizations today.
MDL Technology Is Here To Help
Cloud computing is one of the best options for helping your business to become more efficient and increase sales. Implementing this structure into your company can help get you ahead of the competition that is not utilizing tech effectively.
When you decide to switch to the cloud, your company’s security is our top priority. We offer services such as 24/7 support, network monitoring, offsite data backups, auditing and compliance and more to help ensure that you don’t need to stress about your team’s private information becoming public.
Learn more about the services we offer by visiting our website.
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