We’re sure you are aware of the cloud. In fact, your business is likely using it in some capacity today since email, online banking, Google Drive and Office 365 all use a form of cloud computing to manage both users and information.
But new cloud options are hitting the market every day. How do you know what is right for your business? Should you be using public cloud or private cloud? The reality is that you’ll most likely want to use a combination of the public and private cloud, depending on your unique business needs.
Most organizations expect to use multiple public and private cloud infrastructure options, while still maintaining some level of traditional physical IT resources. Business owners don’t decide to move to the cloud lightly – and rightfully so. Concerns about security, data protection and performance often weigh heavily on their minds.
That’s why it’s so important to work with a cloud solutions provider who understands your business, your goals and your vision for growth.
When we work with business owners to develop cloud solutions, we start by taking a close look at the organization to determine the needs, concerns and its readiness to move to the cloud.
Should Your Business Move to the Cloud?
How do you know if moving to the cloud is right for your business? Evaluate the risks, costs and your business needs by answering these five key questions.
- Do you need to protect private data?
Protecting private data is a top concern for business owners in regulated industries. If you collect and store highly-sensitive information, you need to be sure that your networks and storage solutions remain secure 100% of the time. Data privacy breaches remain a constant threat, so you need a solution that provides a highly-secure, reliable environment with controlled access. A private cloud environment can provide all that, and more.
- Will you need to upgrade your IT infrastructure soon?
If your on-premises IT infrastructure is more than five years old, it may no longer suit your needs. That means you’re already evaluating whether or not to make a significant investment in new workstations, servers or more. A cloud solution will eliminate capital expenses by moving your infrastructure offsite. With virtual desktops, remote access to servers and scalable storage options, moving to the cloud will make your IT operations easier and more streamlined than ever before.
- Could you use 24/7/365 access?
We all know that business doesn’t stop when you leave the office. Today’s flexible work environments and schedules require instant access to files, programs and apps from anywhere in the world. A cloud solution makes that possible – and it increases productivity and collaboration across teams.
- Are you ready to outsource some IT responsibilities?
We often work with business owners who feel their IT teams could be stronger assets to the company if they only had the time to focus on innovation and growth, rather than IT management and maintenance. When their time is taken up with software updates and hardware repairs, there’s little time left to drive business enhancements. When you work with a trusted cloud solutions provider, you’ll take IT environment-related tasks off your team’s plate, allowing them more time to focus on growth.
- Would you like fixed monthly costs?
Last minute expenses for repairs and replacements add up fast – especially with legacy IT infrastructure. If you’re ready to trade unexpected downtime for improved backup, disaster recovery and storage solutions at a fixed monthly cost, you’re ready to move to the cloud.
Your Next Step
Moving your business to the cloud and determining what mix of public cloud vs. private cloud makes sense for your company’s needs isn’t a decision to be taken lightly. Download our white paper, “Is Your Company Ready for the Cloud” to learn more about your options.
