3 Considerations to Make Before Jumping Into the Cloud

If you spend any time at all talking about networking technology, it’s nearly impossible to avoid talking or hearing about the cloud. But how much do you really know about the cloud? Have you implemented cloud technology into your business model yet? Don’t worry, if your business hasn’t made the jump to cloud-based technology, you’re not alone. If you’ve been thinking about moving to the cloud, here are # things that you should consider before making the switch. 

How will your business use the cloud? 

As a business owner, it’s important to understand that there are a number of different ways to utilize cloud technology in your business. Before making the switch, you should consider why you want to be cloud-based —  and what benefits you’d like to see. Some of the uses and benefits of cloud-based technology include: 

• Hosted email services. If your website is hosted by a third-party provider, you’re probably already using hosted email, instead of your own in-house email server. By using a dedicated email server, you have the ability to move your email to the cloud —  and leave any hardware issues or maintenance to the experts. 

• Disaster recovery. Today, it’s more important than ever to back up your data to help preserve the well-being of your business. Cloud technology can act as an extra layer of security for your business, by storing your important data in the cloud, outside of your building —  protecting it from theft, fire, or other natural disasters that can impact your physical space. 

• Software applications. Having software on individual machines for individual employees is quickly becoming a thing of the past. Today, many applications can be deployed directly from the cloud, allowing for better control and broader access for anyone who may need it. 

Understanding the benefits of using the cloud

Two of the biggest benefits of using the cloud are increased flexibility and the ability to share and collaborate. When you’re working in the cloud, you have the ability to work remotely from virtually anywhere in the world. Your employees can access important documents from home or on the road. This flexibility often translates to greater productivity and more efficient management of business resources. 

Cloud technology also allows for opportunities to share and collaborate as we have never seen before. Today, instead of sending a file attachment back and forth in emails, colleagues can work in the cloud, simultaneously working on the same file or project.

Always consider security

When you migrate your data and files to the cloud, safeguarding your information becomes even more important. You will need to establish new policies that not only allow the safe sharing of your data, but that also protect your sensitive data, as well. Before you move your services to any cloud provider, make sure to ask questions about their security protocol. This is especially important if you work in an industry that is regularly trusted with private or protected data, such as the medical, accounting, or legal spaces. 

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