Cloud computing has long been poised as a game-changer in the business space. Industry forecasts predict that 94 per cent of all workloads will be handled in the cloud by the end of 2021, and the COVID-19 crisis is accelerating the process. 

Given that old, server-based computing solutions can be sluggish in the face of today’s high-paced tech world, adopting cloud computing, ensures your organisation has the digital tools it needs to face down whatever challenges may come next. In other words, if you’re hoping to get your business through this pandemic unscathed and maintain optimal productivity afterwards, you’ll need to migrate to cloud computing.

Below, are a few ways cloud computing can support your business during and beyond the pandemic.

• Cost Savings

A primary benefit of migrating to cloud is that it enables businesses both small and large, to significantly save costs. Most cloud computing services, including public cloud solutions and private cloud solutions hosted by third-party service providers, charge on a per-user basis. This means that you pay based on the number of users that access the cloud, as opposed to a traditional server set up in which costs are flat whether you have one user or 10,000. For new companies, this can be a major benefit in minimising expenses. Also, increasing cloud computing server space is easy – a process that can be labour-intensive and costly with conventional servers.

• Mobility

Mobility is a very appealing aspect of cloud computing, particularly in the digital age and with the coronavirus outbreak – where workers are required to work from home. Unlike traditional servers, in which data and software options are only accessible when physically at a place of business, cloud resources allow access to files, programs, applications, and data from anywhere as long as you have an internet connection. Cloud computing also supports data access on all devices, from laptops, mobile phones, to tablets. By empowering employees to work from any location, cloud solutions help to increase productivity and flexibility.

• Security

With the exponential rise of cyber threats in the wake of the pandemic, keeping your sensitive data protected has never been more crucial. Most service providers make data security a priority in a way small and mid-sized business can’t.

Outdated on-premise networks have considerable security risk, becoming more complex as they have aged and grown. Most of them have been created over years and include many IT and security technologies, that don’t integrate with one another easily nor have a common management platform. Network defenders are having significant disadvantage against the complex threats we experience today because their architecture and modules are dated compared to those of attackers. Public cloud, on the other hand, is an innovation of the last decade. Therefore, cloud providers collectively invest billions in security research, innovation and protection often utilising artificial intelligence to detect and paralyse threats in real-time.

• Scalability

Growth is every company’s goal, regardless of age or size. However, historically, servers have not been growth-friendly, with most organisations resorting to servers that are too large due to anticipated future needs. The cloud, on the other hand, is growth-centric, boasting a model that grows as companies grow – or one that can be easily be scaled down should things begin to go the other way. Instead of in a set amount of space, storage space is completely flexible and doesn’t cost as much as maintaining a set of servers with future plans in mind.

• Disaster Recovery as a Service

Disasters (natural and technological) are inevitable and can be catastrophic, making disaster recovery crucial. With traditional servers, where backups are inefficient, and information is continual at risk, companies can easily lose weeks, months or even years of hard work, resulting in severe setbacks. Fortunately, these challenges can be mitigated by utilising cloud services. Cloud providers offer disaster recovery as a service (DRaaS), allowing a company to back up its data and IT infrastructure in a secured cloud computing environment and provide all the DR orchestration to regain access and functionality to IT infrastructure after a disaster. With DRaaS in place, you are assured of a faster, automated and more reliable recovery operation.

• Business Continuity

Another key advantage of leveraging cloud technology is business continuity. Unexpected incidents and system outages often lead to business disruptions and expensive downtime. With the cloud, you can store and host all your sensitive and crucial information that is vulnerable to business disasters and recover them once the situation is contained.  This way, the cloud ensures business continuity despite unprecedented challenges.

• Easier Backups and Restorations

One critical benefit of cloud technology is that it automates the generation of backups that are stored in remote locations. Backups can be scheduled for optimal times that suit crucial business needs. When disaster recovery is necessary, the backup tools facilitate faster recovery and restoration functions. With the cloud, restoration no longer depends on physical tapes, discs, or flash drives, which can be a major issue when natural disasters are the cause of business disruption.

Conclusion 

Cloud computing is a solution for all seasons and businesses. It is a cost-effective and efficient way to acquire the digital infrastructure your company needs to stay relevant and competitive in today’s business world. By enabling ease of scale, enhancing and enriching remote work and collaboration, protecting crucial company data and delivering disaster recovery, migrating to the cloud is the perfect recipe for business growth and continuity.