Motivations might vary, but businesses of all types and sizes are turning to cloud technology not only as a storage platform but also to more fully utilize computing power from offsite servers that are maintained by professionals. According to a report issued by Goldman Sachs, spending on cloud computing platforms and infrastructure increased more than 30 percent from 2013 to 2018. This is compared with growth of only five percent for overall IT.
Adoption of cloud systems, by contrast, has accelerated much faster than previously anticipated, which led Forrester to revise its 2011 forecast on the market size of cloud services upward by 20 percent. It doesn’t matter what aspect you choose to look at, things in the world of cloud computing are looking good. This is partly due to services such as Quicktech, which are quickly dominating the market. What follows are seven ways business can take advantage of cloud computing technology.
Take Advantage of the Latest Software
Employing cloud computing allows businesses to take advantage of the latest in software technology. Those who use cloud databases get software almost as soon as it is released. Further, users enjoy the benefit of software enhancements that are released frequently. This is in contrast with purchased or home-grown software that issues only once a year or so after it has been rolled out.
One issue with software that should be considered is integration. Services like MuleSoft middleware integration, are used to make sure that solutions are linked across the organization. Studies show that only 29% of applications are integrated at the normal company, placing a tremendous burden on IT teams, which results in elevated costs.
Doing More With Less
By using cloud computing, companies can reduce or sometimes eliminate their data centers. This reduction of IT costs, specifically the number of servers, software costs, and the number of staff members can have a positive effect on a company’s IT capabilities.
Cost Flexibility
When compared with traditional IT methods, cloud computing is cheap. All a company needs is a server and the infrastructure capacity when it is needed. Additional capacity can be allotted for peak periods and then de-allotted when it is no longer needed. With traditional computing methods, capacity is purchased for peak times but left to idle when not required.
Always-On Availability
Most cloud service providers are very reliable when they are needed. In fact, many maintain 99.99 percent uptime. When companies need access to cloud systems, they are almost always available. There are even some applications provided that work off-line.
Improved Mobility
Wherever employees are who need data and applications, they are available using cloud technology. For this reason, workers can be anywhere and still having access to data and applications, regardless of the platform being used.
Greater Collaboration
Cloud technology and its capabilities allow greater collaboration among those who must work together and need to share data to accomplish their missions. Even if they only meet virtually, everyone has access to the same information in real time and via shared data. These results is a large savings in terms of time and money in the development of projects.
Cost Effectiveness
Since companies don’t have to operate data centers and purchase related equipment, there is a significant savings in terms of IT costs. This includes savings in facilities, utilities, hardware, and many other related costs. Traditional computing can cost a company millions before an IT department even gets started.
Most companies that consider cloud computing options point to concerns such as data security, regulatory compliance, and others, before starting. Fortunately, as more companies turn to cloud computing as a data solution, the results will speak for themselves.