3 Significant Ways the Cloud Can Grow Your Business

Has your business moved to the cloud yet? If not, you’ve got some work to do--it’s only a matter of time before the need for the cloud completely overshadows your organization. Thankfully, it’s only challenging to move to the cloud if you don’t have a group of professional IT technicians helping you.

Here are three ways that the cloud allows your business to do more with less.

Anywhere Access to Applications and Data
If your business is new to the process of cloud computing, one of the best ways you can realize its value is by virtualizing applications and providing access to them over an online environment. You may already be using cloud-based applications in the form of Microsoft Office 365 or Google Apps. These types of data storage and cloud solutions can help your employees stay productive from anywhere they have an Internet connection, which allows them to get more work done and improve efficiency.

You can also host other applications and solutions in the cloud, like a Voice over Internet Protocol system. It’s basically an online phone system, and some of the more dynamic VoIP systems have phone apps that allow your employees to use their company phone number on their smartphone.

Improved Budget
The cloud takes advantage of virtualized machines like servers and desktop infrastructures, which allow you to cut down on the amount of hardware stored on-site. The idea is to reduce workloads in-house and place these mission-critical services in the cloud, located in a virtual environment that can be scaled and managed online. This type of virtualization is important for limiting the amount of on-site technology that needs maintenance, which affords your business more opportunities for cost savings. Additionally, the fewer resource-intensive solutions you have in your office, the more you’ll save on energy bills like electricity and air conditioning.

Simplified Network with Room for Flexibility
A simplified network means that you’re hosting the bare minimum amount of hardware on-site, and that you’ve managed to virtualize the majority of solutions that your business relies on. For example, many businesses don’t take advantage of full-fledged workstations, and instead choose to use thin clients. Thin clients work by calling a desktop infrastructure from the virtualized server, as well as all of the necessary resources to function properly. Thin clients are less expensive and consume less energy, so they’re a viable alternative to the traditional workstation--when backed up by virtualization, of course. Furthermore, cloud-hosted solutions have the flexibility to change and adapt to your business’s specific needs. This helps by allowing you to allocate resources as they’re needed.

To implement a cloud solution that’s right for your business, reach out to Network Solutions Unlimited at (217) 428-6449.