Benefits Of Cloud Computing

Cloud seems to be the in word at the moment and you may be wondering what all the fuss is about. Is there really any benefit to moving your company into the cloud or is it just so much hot air?
For the smaller enterprise cloud generally means a SAAS (Software As A Service) proposition. This means that you rent the use of the software but it lives on someone else's servers that you access using the internet, usually through your internet browser. Often nothing is installed on your machine and you can access it from anywhere that has an internet link and on any machine that has an internet browser installed.

We've put together a few reasons why we think cloud solutions could be good for your company to help you decide whether you should consider it as a method of running your firm.

Cash flow - buying a whole suite of programs for your
business can be an expensive proposition, especially in the early days when cash really is king. Cloud solutions typically get charged per user and monthly, so you only pay for what you need and when you need it. Updates of your software are included in the price and because it's hosted in the cloud you have no valuable servers and network infrastructure to shell out for.

Support - smaller enterprises often can't afford the kind of 24/7 support they need. By renting your cloud solution you'll get 24 hour backup from fully trained and experienced people who can fix your problems quickly and with the minimum of fuss. The latest updates to the system will be made in the background and you'll get them straightaway.

Enterprise class solutions at a budget price - because you are paying only per user the cost is low but the supplier needs to have the very best kind of software with the most features to attract large clients. Piggybacking the development costs in this way makes it very efficient for you.

Full back up solutions - because the software will be hosted on top line servers it will have back up and resilience systems in place so that you can be sure that your data is safe. You won't have to worry about making sure you back up your data or your software as cloud solutions take care of all that for you.
Flexibility - when your business expands you can easily add in users at a moment's notice and if you need to slim down, turning off access reduces your cost too.

Connectivity - typically cloud solutions are built to connect to other systems and services. Being hosted in the cloud you can expect they'll have an API (a method of talking to other systems) which will allow you to integrate other parts of your business with your cloud software.

Accessibility - being browser based most cloud systems are accessible wherever you are. In your local coffee shop and want to see who has paid their bill? No problem, simply connect over Wi-Fi and browse your accounts. You'll also find that today's SAAS systems are multi device compliant - meaning that they recognise whether you are using a desktop, phone or tablet and work equally well on all.

Security - no system is 100% safe but cloud vendors spend a lot of time ensuring that their software is as secure as possible. Because you are benefitting from their ability to spend serious money on security you can be sure that your data is as safe as it can be.

Cloud solutions aren't for every business but for many they make perfect sense. They can be cheaper, more secure and have better back up. They'll typically be class leading solutions that are constantly updated too so you know you have the very latest and best solution for your firm.